Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Beatty, John (physician)

BEATTY, John, physician, b. in Bucks co., Pa., 19 Dec., 1749; d. in Trenton, N.J., 30 April, 1826. He was a son of Charles Beatty, was graduated at Princeton in 1769, studied medicine with the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, joined the army early in the war for independence, and in September, 1776, held the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Pennsylvania contingent. He was taken prisoner by the British at the capture of Fort Washington, N.Y., 17 Nov., 1776, and during his confinement suffered greatly in health, owing to harsh treatment. Having been exchanged early in 1778, he was appointed , 28 May, commissary-general of prisoners, with the rank of colonel, On 31 March, 1780, he resigned and settled as a physician at Princeton, N.J. He was a delegate to the continental congress in 1783-'5, served in both branches of the state legislature, was a delegate to the constitutional convention, and a member of congress in 1793-'5. From 1795 till 1805 he was secretary of state for New Jersey, and he was president of the Trenton bank in 1815-'26.