The year 1768 bore in its calendar "The birthday of medical honors in America," as it was happily termed by the Provost. The inception of the Medical Department has been narrated in connection with the biographical sketch of Dr. Morgan, to whom credit is due as its founder, though if the distinction can be made, the father of it was Thomas Penn, in whose letter of 15 February, 1765, to the Trustees commending to them young Morgan's plans, must be found the influential germ from which it grew. But an equal share in the honor of this paternity must be granted to the ever faithful friend of the College Dr. Fothergill, who in a letter of April 1762 to his friend James Pemberton, advising him of sending by Dr. Shippen a gift of anatomical subjects and drawings to the Philadelphia Hospital, says he recommends to
Dr. Shippen to give a course of anatomical Lectures to such as may attend. He is very well qualified for the subject, and will soon be followed by an able assistant, Dr Morgan, both of whom, I apprehend will not only be useful to the Province in their employments, but if suitably countenanced by the Legislature, will be able to erect a School of Physic amongst you, that may draw students from various parts of America and the West Indies, and at least furnish them with a better idea of the rudiments of their Profession, than they have at present the means of acquiring on your side of the water. 1
The medical lectures of William Shippen the younger had preceded this action of the Trustees by the space of more than two years, but his pupils completed their course under his instructions without any specific honors in view. Dr. Morgan must have perceived the inutility of this, though he had at one time projected an alliance with Dr. Shippen in a course of lectures. With lively ingenuity he recognized that the path for such honors was through the Philadelphia College, and submitting his plans to the Proprietary he found them warmly
1 See Minutes of the Hospital Managers, 8 November, 1762. Dr. FothergilPs expectations proved to be prophecies.
