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Benjamin Rush (January 4, 1746 [O.S. December 24, 1745] – April 19, 1813) was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Universalist.[1] He is well known as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and for being a supporter for the scientific education of all people.(www.ushistory.org

Benjamin Rush was born in the township of Byberry in Philadelphia County to John Rush and Susanna Hall, which was then about 14 miles outside Philadelphia. (The township was incorporated into Philadelphia in 1854 and now remains one of its neighborhoods). Rush's father died when he was six, leaving him to spend most of his early childhood with his uncle, the Reverend Samuel Finley. He would attended Finley's academy at Nottingham, which would later become West Nottingham Academy.

In 1760, at age 15, Benjamin completed the five-year program earning him a Bachelor of Arts degree at the College of New Jersey, which is now known as Princeton University. He then went on to study medicine under Dr. John Redman in Philadelphia, who encouraged him to further his studies at the University of Edinburgh. There, he earned a medical degree. While in the United Kingdom practicing medicine, he learned French, Italian, and Spanish. Returning to the Colonies in 1769 (age 24), Rush opened a medical practice in Philadelphia and became Professor of Chemistry at the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).

In 1777 he became surgeon-general of the middle department of the Continental Army. Conflicts broke out with the Army Medical service, specifically with Dr. William Shippen, Jr., and led to Rush's resignation in 1778.