John Stevenson (doctor) facts for kids

John Stevenson (born around 1718 – died March 23, 1785) was an important person from Scotland who helped build and grow the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Some even called him the "American Romulus," like the legendary founder of ancient Rome!

John and his brother, Henry, who was a doctor, came to British North America from Ireland in 1734. John married Mary Tipton in 1735, but sadly, she passed away the next year.

A Key Merchant in Baltimore

John Stevenson was born in Ireland around 1718. He lived in Baltimore for over 40 years and became one of its most famous merchants. He was the first person to ship wheat and flour from Baltimore. This helped Baltimore become a very important trading city.

Before Stevenson, Baltimore mostly traded tobacco. But he changed that by sending flour to Ireland. This made Baltimore a busy port, like New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston. Baltimore was a great location because it was close to farms that grew a lot of wheat.

Because of flour, Baltimore's economy changed a lot. Old trails became new roads, and many flour mills were built near rivers like the Jones Falls and Patapsco River. Large warehouses were built along the long docks (about 1,000-foot-long (300 m)) that went into the harbor. Soon, roads from Baltimore reached all the way to Pennsylvania. Baltimore's ships sailed to Ireland, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America.

Stevenson also became good friends and business partners with Jonathan Plowman Jr.. They worked together to help people from England come to America. Many of these people were poor and looking for a new chance at a better life.

Helping with Health: The Doctor's Role

During Stevenson's time, there were several outbreaks of smallpox, a very serious disease. These happened in 1750, 1757, 1772, and 1779. John Stevenson helped by giving free inoculations to anyone who came to him. An inoculation was an early way to protect people from smallpox.

However, not everyone trusted this new method. In 1776, leaders in Baltimore even stopped inoculations for soldiers. They worried it might cause more sickness.

In 1769, John's brother, Henry Stevenson, opened the first smallpox hospital in the colonies right there in Baltimore. This was a big step in fighting the disease.

A Local Leader: Justice of the Peace

John Stevenson and his friend Jonathan Plowman Jr. were both chosen to be Justices of the Peace. This meant they helped solve legal problems and keep order in Baltimore. Their names can be found as witnesses on many important documents from that time.

Helping Create Maryland's Government

Stevenson was also chosen to be a representative for Maryland in 1776. This group of representatives met to create Maryland's first state constitution. This was a very important document that set up the rules for how the new state would be governed.

The convention started on August 14, 1776, in Annapolis, Maryland. They worked until November 11, 1776. They changed the old rules that mentioned the king and parliament to new rules that focused on "the people." This new constitution helped Maryland become an independent state.

Later Life

John Stevenson passed away at his home in Baltimore on March 23, 1785. He was 67 years old. He was buried in the Presbyterian churchyard. Stevenson had been a member of the committee that helped start the First Presbyterian Church in Baltimore in 1761.