American Medical Biographies/Halliburton, John
Halliburton, John (1740(?)–1808)
John Halliburton, son of a Presbyterian clergyman of Haddington, Scotland, was born about 1740 and died in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1808.
In 1760, or a little later, he was surgeon on board a British frigate, commanded by Lord Colville. On her arrival at Newport, Rhode Island, he became acquainted with the Hon. Jahleel Brenton and deeply attached to one of his daughters. Having completed a required term of service on the ship, he returned to Newport and married Miss Susanna Brenton in the year 1767, and settled down to practise in Newport. Here he seems to have been very successful and accumulated a good deal of property. But little good did it bring him, for as he adhered to the side of the Motherland in the dispute with the Colonies, he was compelled during the Revoluntionary War to abandon his practice and property and make his escape from Rhode Island. On the pretext of visiting patients on the mainland, Dr. Halliburton secretly left Newport in a barge and landed safely at Long Island, where the British Army was stationed. On his arrival at headquarters he presented himself to Sir Henry Clinton, who (as some recognition of his services) offered him the headship of the Naval Medical Department at Halifax. Having accepted this he soon afterwards sailed from New York and reached Halifax in 1782, his wife and family coming a year later. In addition to his official duties, Dr. Halliburton entered into general practice and became a leader in his profession. In 1787 he was appointed a member of His Majesty's Council. Sir Brenton Halliburton, for a long time Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, was his son. The inscription on his tombstone in St. Paul's cemetery happily summarizes his characteristics:
"If unshaken loyalty to his king, steady attachment to his friends, active benevolence to the destitute, and humble confidence in God can perpetuate his memory, he will not be forgotten."