Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-14
DIR. JAMES f. MORGAN.
Tribute to the Life and Services of
an Eminent Physician.


DR.. James Ethelbert Morgan an old and en- J.
nently successful physician of Washington city
died at his residence. sos E street northwest,
June 2 1889. He was born in St Mary's county,
Md, September 25. 1922. His ancestry on both
sides were from Great Britain-the Morgans OF
MOnmOuthshire. in Wales They were Cath.
ohcs and adherents of Charles the First and
therefore, in the changes of rulers, and owing
to the grievous disabilities imposed upon per-
sons of this faith. this family gladly sought an
asylum with Lord Baltimores loyal Catholic
colony in Maryland. In America DR.. Morgan's
ancestry were devoted to agriculture and were
large and successful tobacco planters in lower
Maryland
The subject of this notice was the son of
George and Maria (Ceci) Morgan. The Cecils
were also an early Maryland family from Kent.
England. HIS mother a woman of educa-
ton and energy and of great force of charac-
ter. and being left widow with a numerous
family OF CHILDREN to raise and educate, re-
solved to remove from her plantation to the
town of Frederick, Md. where there were good
schools. At ST. Johns college. in Frederick
under the charge of the Jesuit fathers Dr.
James E. Morgan was educated and received
the honOrs of the institution, did his two
brothers, while his sisters educated at
seminary for young ladies III the same place.
Immediately after leaving college he began
the study of medicine with DIR. Fiodoardo How
ard in Washington city After attending two
full courses of lectures at the Columbia medical
college. District of Columbia. he received from
it the degree of VI. D., in lS45. He then began
to practice his profession in South Washing
ton, q growing part of the city, where he soon
acquired good business. But during the lee
ture term, even when actively engaged in pro-
fessionsl duties during the day, he would spend
his evenings at the college. Although Wash
ington had at that period but limited hospital
advantages for students, DIR. Morgan, by his
assiduity and devotion to study, well pre-
pared for practice IN all branches of his profess
sion. He prided himself in being general
practitioner.
His aptness for teaching early attracted atten-
ton. and in 1913 he offered and accepted
the position of demonstration of anatomy in Co.
lumbar college. and the following year, in ad-
ditlon to these duties. acted assistant to the
professor of anatomy. preparing his dissections
for demonstration before the class and rscapit-
ula.ing his lectures to the students. He filed
these positions with much acceptableness to
the faculty and TO the students. In 1852 Dr.
Morgan was elected to the chair of physiology
and medical Jurisprudence in the Georgetown
medical college. which position he accepted. and
has from that time TO the close of his life been
earnestly devoted as a teacher and friend of
this institution. In 1858, to accommodate the
faculty on the bringing in of new professors.
he was induced to accept the chair of materia
medica and Therapeutics in addition to jurspru-
dence. He continued to fill this position with in
creasing putation until 1856 when he insisted
upon retiring from the labor, that he might
have more time to attend to his practice and
private affairs. In accepting his resignation
he was elected by the faculty emeritus profess
sor. and thus remained with the college.
DIR. Morgan possessed noble figure He was
6 foot inches IN height and weighed about 200
pounds; of tne carriage and commanding per-
son. pleasing face and an agreeable voice and
affable manners. He was sure to attract atten-
ton in any company. and his department on
all occasions proclaimed him the gentleman
He was popular a man and a citizen and be-
loved as physician His popularity led him
to be selected and proffered many public posi-
tlons, but he limited his connections with such
almost exclusively to- those in some manner
connected with his profession.
In 1850 he elected without regard to
party member of the board of aldermen of
Washington and was at the time the youngest
member in the board But he refused ever
after to stand for this or any political Office,
and devoted himself exclusively. or as far as
practicable, to the duties of his profession.
For a number of years he was physician and
surgeon TO the Washington asylum and small
pox hospital, but in 1861 from the pressure of
private practice he retired from this position
In 1861 DIR. Morgan was requested by the sanitary
commission to attend the Soldiers Rest" an
institution established to afford temporary
relief to disabled and sick soldiers passing
through the city, to and from the army
geon in chief TO the quartermaster's hospital at
Farragut square. He filed the position until
1865. when the hospital was closed.
DR.. Morgan for more than fifteen wears
served as a member of the board of health of
Washington city. In 1857 he, with Dr. Robert
King Stone. were committee appointed by the
board of health to investigate the causes and
character Of the National hotel sickness which
at the time created great deal of excitement
not only IN Washington, but throughout the
nod fha
that the sickness was caused by defective sewer
age. DIR. Morgan had long been a member of
the American pharmaceutical association and
had always taken an active interest in the con-
yentlons for the decennial revision of the
United States PharmacopR. At the meeting of
the last convention, in 1850, he called the meet
ing TO order, as he was the only surviving Off
Ger OF the former Convention 10 discharge that
duty. DIR. Morgan joined the Medical associa-
hon OF the District of Columbia in 1916, and
filed at different times most of its Offices and
was Its president in 1879. In 1916 he became
member of the Washington pathological So
ciety. He joined the Medical society of the
District of Columbia in lS48. and had ALWAYS
been an earnest worker with this body, and was
Its president in 1873. In lSiS he became a
member of the American medical association,
and attended meetings In 1852, SO, IS, So. Ca
'65. 6s, IS, "A. 20. So 81 and 81. In 1887 he
became a member of the ninth international
medical congress. which met in Washington
that year.
At the breaking out Of the war between the
states DIR. Morgan was appointed colonel of the
fourth regiment Of the District volunteers but
as soon as the organization of the regiment
was completed he resigned the command to
accept that OF surgeon to the District militia
he had been for many years one of the trustees
OF the public schools of Washington. and took
great interest in their success. The doctor was
an lncessant labOrer in any measure that
engaged his attention, and in his profession
vlSilant and conscientious in the discharge of
ms duties. He was a man OF wide information
and sound judgment matters within the
range OF his profession and pursuits in life
He was good business man. and, what is a
rare quality, attended TO his business promptly
and did II intelEgently and well. He did not
mix up or confound sentiment with business.
was close collector. and made good invest
ments from time To time as his means accums-
lated IN his hands that he leaves a very
handsome estate. DR.. Morgan. although tax
ing part IN most matters affecting the interests
OF the city and frequently attending meetings
TO counsel with his fellOw-citizens rarely made
addresses on such occasions He POSSESSED in
high degree the ability to interest students in
the lecture-roOm and by private office in
struction. yet he rather ayerse to writing
few papers in medical journals and an occa-
slonal college commencement address and ora
tons before the medical society-one of spe-
cial ability was "A Defense of Medicine"-eom-
prise his contribution to the literature of the
board of management of Columbia Hospital
To- w.. -