Draft:Ezra Green
Biography of one of the firstborn people photographed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ezra Green (June 17, 1746 – July 25, 1847) was an American physician and naval surgeon during the American Revolutionary War.[1] A graduate of Harvard College, he is best known for serving as the ship's surgeon on the USS Ranger under the command of John Paul Jones.[2]
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 2 months or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 4,283 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
United StatesEzra Green | |
|---|---|
 Dr. Ezra Green (1746–1847) near the end of his life. He was one of the earliest-born people ever photographed. | |
| Born | June 17, 1746 |
| Died | July 25, 1847 (aged 101) Dover, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Buried | Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | Continental Army Continental Navy |
| Service years | 1775–1781 |
| Rank | Surgeon |
| Unit | Reed's New Hampshire Regiment |
| Conflicts | American Revolutionary War |
| Alma mater | Harvard College (1765) |
| Spouse |
Susanna Hayes
(m. 1778; died 1829) |
| Children | 13 |
| Other work | Physician, merchant, postmaster |
Green's military career spanned both the Continental Army, where he participated in the Invasion of Canada, and the Continental Navy.[3] His wartime diary, later published, serves as a primary historical account of life aboard the Ranger during its raids in the Irish Sea and its victory over HMS Drake.[2] Following the war, he became a prominent merchant and the first postmaster of Dover, New Hampshire.[4] At the time of his death at age 101, he was the oldest living graduate of Harvard and is recognized as one of the earliest-born individuals to have been photographed.[5]
Early life and family
Ezra Green was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on June 17, 1746, the son of Ezra Green Sr. and Eunice (Burrell) Green.[6] He descended from a prominent New England family; his father was a selectman and representative for Malden.[2] Green received his preparatory education locally before enrolling at Harvard College, where he graduated in 1765.[7]
Following his graduation, he moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts, to study medicine and surgery under the tutelage of Dr. Sprague and later Dr. Fisher.[6] In 1767, Green relocated to Dover, New Hampshire, where he established a successful medical practice and became a well-regarded member of the community.[8]
In 1778, while on leave from his naval duties, Green married Susanna Hayes (1759–1829), the daughter of Reuben Hayes of Dover.[6] The couple had 13 children together, several of whom died in infancy. Their nephew, James D. Green, later served as the first mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.[2] Green remained in Dover for the remainder of his long life, eventually becoming the oldest living graduate of Harvard at the time of his death.[9]
Military service
Continental Army
In June 1775, following the Battle of Bunker Hill, Green joined the Continental Army as a surgeon.[1] He was initially assigned to Colonel James Reed's 3rd New Hampshire Regiment (then known as the 2nd New Hampshire), stationed at Winter Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts.[6] During this period, he notably underwent smallpox inoculation, spending 17 days in a hospital at Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Massachusetts, before returning to active duty in March 1776.[2]
Following the British evacuation of Boston, Green's regiment was ordered to New York and subsequently joined the Invasion of Canada under the overall command of General Benedict Arnold.[6] Green participated in the arduous American retreat from Montreal and St. Johns (now Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) during the summer of 1776.[2] Throughout the campaign, he treated soldiers suffering from the combined effects of combat wounds, dysentery, and smallpox. He remained with the army until his regiment's term of service expired in late 1776, after which he briefly returned to his medical practice in Dover.[6]
Continental Navy
In October 1777, Green transitioned to the Continental Navy after being appointed surgeon of the newly commissioned USS Ranger.[10] Under the command of Captain John Paul Jones, the ship sailed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to France, carrying news of the American victory at the Battles of Saratoga.[2]
During the voyage and subsequent cruises in the Irish Sea, Green was present for several of the most famous naval engagements of the war. On April 24, 1778, he served as the primary medical officer during the North Channel engagement between the Ranger and the British sloop-of-war HMS Drake.[10] Green's meticulous diary entries from this period provide a rare, first-hand account of the battle, detailing the casualties and the surgical procedures performed on deck.[2]
Following Jones's transfer to the USS Bonhomme Richard, Green remained with the Ranger under the command of Captain Thomas Simpson.[6] He participated in several successful privateering cruises, capturing numerous British prizes before the ship was eventually captured by the British at the Siege of Charleston in May 1780.[2] Green was later paroled and returned to New Hampshire, concluding his military service in 1781.[1]
Post-war career and legacy
Following the conclusion of his military service in 1781, Green returned to Dover, New Hampshire, where he shifted his focus from medicine to commerce.[8] He established himself as a successful merchant and tavern keeper, owning one of the most profitable general stores in the region. In 1790, he was appointed by President George Washington as the first postmaster of Dover, a position he held for several decades.[11]
Green remained active in New Hampshire's political and civic life. He was a member of the state convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1788 and served as a deacon of the First Congregational Church for over 50 years.[6] His longevity made him a local celebrity; in his final years, he was frequently interviewed by historians seeking first-hand accounts of the Revolution and his time under John Paul Jones.[2]
Green died in Dover on July 25, 1847, at the age of 101 years and 38 days.[9] At the time of his death, he was the oldest living graduate of Harvard University.[2] His wartime diary, titled Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship-of-War "Ranger," was published posthumously in 1875 by his descendants and remains a vital primary source for naval historians.[2][12] He is buried at Pine Hill Cemetery in Dover.[9]