John Jeffries II
American ophthalmic surgeon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Jeffries II (March 23, 1796– July 1876) was an American ophthalmic surgeon who co-founded the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1824 with Edward Reynolds.[1][2][3] This organization, which began life as the Boston Eye Infirmary, became officially incorporated in 1826 and maintained that name until 1924 when it became Massachusetts Eye and Ear.[4] Jeffries and Reynolds were the only surgical staff until 1833 when the staff was expanded to include other assistant surgeons as well as an apothecary.[4] Jeffries resigned from this position in 1842 and had no other official interaction with the institution until his son Benjamin was named Surgeon of the Infirmary in 1867.[4]
John Jeffries II | |
|---|---|
Jeffries in 1865 | |
| Born | March 23, 1796 Boston Massachusetts |
| Occupation | ophthalmic surgeon |
| Known for | Massachusetts Eye and Ear |
Early life and education
Jeffries was born in Boston.[4] His father was the physician and meteorologist John Jeffries.[4] He attended Harvard College at 15 and graduated in the class of 1815.[1] He received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard in 1819 and became a fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1826.[1] He married in 1820, and was the father of three daughters and five sons, one of whom was Benjamin Joy Jeffries, one of the creators of the New England Ophthalmological Society.[5][4][6] The family had a summer residence in East Boston in a neighborhood now known as Jeffries Point.[6]
