Mitchill, Samuel Latham

20 Aug. 1764–7 Sept. 1831. Lawyer, surveyor, author, editor, poet, physician, college professor. Born in North Hempstead, Queens Co., New York. Son of Robert Mitchill and Mary Latham. Raised in Quaker faith. Studied medicine at University of Edinburgh, 1786, in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. Appointed a commissioner to purchase western New York lands from Iroquois Indians, 1788. Professor of chemistry, botany, and natural history at Columbia College, 1792–1801, in New York City. A founder of State Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, 1793. Elected to New York legislature, 1790, 1797. Married Catherine Akerly Cock, 23 June 1799. Served in U.S. Congress, 1801–1813. Professor at New York’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1807–1826. Served in U.S. Navy during War of 1812. Appointed surgeon general of New York state militia, 1818. Founder and president of Lyceum of Natural History of New York. A founder of New York Literary and Philosophical Society, Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and Rutgers Medical College. Died in New York City.