Ben Franklin's World 430 The Founding Father of American Medicine: Benjamin Rush
Dec 30, 2025
In this engaging discussion, historian Sarah Naramore, an expert on early American medicine and author of a book on Benjamin Rush, sheds light on this intriguing Founding Father. They delve into Rush’s creation of an 'American system' of medicine and his revolutionary thoughts on mental health and addiction. Naramore illustrates how Rush viewed public health as intertwined with civic responsibility, arguing that a healthy body was essential for a healthy republic, making his contributions to American medicine and politics both profound and enduring.
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Body As Model For Republic
- Benjamin Rush framed the human body as a model for republican government, mapping physiological systems to political separation of powers.
- He argued a republic is natural because God made our bodies republics, making monarchy unnatural.
Franklin Loans Young Rush £100
- While studying in London, Benjamin Rush impressed Benjamin Franklin, who loaned him 100 pounds to travel to Paris.
- Rush later scraped together the money and paid Franklin back, which solidified their relationship.
Thousands Wrote To "America's Doctor"
- Sarah Naramore read roughly 3,000 letters sent to Rush at the Library Company to see how the public viewed him as "America's doctor."
- She found letters from far-flung places asking for medical advice, showing Rush's broad public reach.
