Nathan Francis Mossell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nathan Francis Mossell
Born	(1856-07-27)July 27, 1856 Hamilton, Canada
Died	October 27, 1946(1946-10-27) (aged 90) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Education	Lincoln University University of Pennsylvania (1882) M.D.
Spouse(s)	Gertrude Emily Hicks Bustill
Children	Florence and Mary Campbell Mossell
Parent(s)	Aaron Albert Mossell I Eliza Bowers
Relatives	Aaron Albert Mossell, brother Sadie Tanner Mossell, niece, Paul Robeson, nephew Charles Hicks Bustill, father-in-law

Nathan Francis Mossell (born July 27, 1856 – died October 27, 1946) was a very important doctor. He was the first African-American person to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1882. After medical school, he trained at hospitals in Philadelphia and London.

In 1888, he became the first black doctor chosen to be a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society. This was a big achievement at the time. He also helped start the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital in West Philadelphia in 1895. He led this hospital as its chief doctor until he retired in 1933.

Early Life and Education

Nathan Mossell was born in Hamilton, Canada, in 1856. He was the fourth of six children. His parents, Eliza Bowers and Aaron Albert Mossell I, were both descendants of freed slaves. This means their ancestors had been enslaved but gained their freedom.

His mother often told stories of the challenges their families faced. These stories made her children determined to succeed. Nathan's maternal grandfather had been enslaved but refused to work. He was eventually freed. He settled in Baltimore, but his family, including Nathan's mother, were later sent to Trinidad.

Nathan's paternal grandfather was brought from West Africa. He managed to buy his own freedom and his wife's freedom. He also settled in Baltimore, where Nathan's father was born.

Moving for Education

Nathan Mossell's parents met and married in Baltimore. His father became a brickmaker and saved enough money to buy a house. After their third child was born, they decided to move to Canada. At that time, free black people in Maryland were not allowed to get an education. Nathan's parents wanted their children to go to school.

They sold their house in Baltimore and moved to Hamilton, Canada. His father bought land with clay and started his own brickmaking business there.

Nathan's Siblings

Nathan had several siblings who also achieved great things:

• Charles Mossell (born 1850) graduated from Lincoln University. He studied theology and became a missionary in Haiti.
• Alvarilla Mossell (born 1857) also worked as a missionary in Haiti with her brother Charles.
• Aaron Albert Mossell II (1863–1951) was the first African American to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. His daughter, Sadie Tanner Mossell (1898–1989), became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in the United States in 1921. She studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

School Days

During the Civil War, Nathan's family moved back to the United States. They settled in Lockport, New York. There, his father again owned a brickmaking business. Nathan and his siblings went to the local public school in Lockport.

Nathan started working part-time for his father at age nine. This made his schooling less regular. Later, he joined his older brother Charles at Lincoln University. This is a historically black college in Pennsylvania. He studied Natural Science and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1879.

Medical Career and Achievements

Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital, which Nathan Mossell helped found in 1895.

After Lincoln University, Mossell went to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He made history by becoming its first African-American graduate in 1882. He then continued his training at hospitals in Philadelphia, including the Pennsylvania University Hospital. He also trained at famous hospitals in London, England, such as Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital.

Breaking Barriers

When he returned to the United States, Nathan Mossell continued to break barriers. In 1888, he became the first black doctor to be elected as a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society. This was a significant step forward for African-American doctors. That same year, he also opened his own private medical practice.

In 1895, he played a key role in starting the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School. This hospital was located in West Philadelphia. He served as the chief-of-staff and medical director of the hospital. He held these important leadership roles until he retired in 1933.

Marriage and Family Life

Nathan Mossell married Gertrude Emily Hicks Bustill (1848-1955) on July 12, 1893, in Philadelphia. Gertrude was from the well-known Bustill family. They had two daughters named Florence Mossell and Mary Campbell Mossell.

Gertrude's family had a diverse background, including African, European, and Lenape ancestry. Her sister, Maria Louisa Bustill, married William Drew Robeson. They were the parents of the famous singer, actor, and Civil Rights leader Paul Robeson. This made Paul Robeson Nathan Mossell's nephew.

Later Years

After retiring as the hospital director in 1933, Nathan Mossell continued to work in his private medical practice. He had started this practice back in 1888.

He passed away on October 27, 1946, in Philadelphia. He was 90 years old. At the time of his death, he was thought to be the oldest practicing black doctor.