First Recorded July 4th Oration

Ramsay served in the South Carolina legis lature throughout the Page 8. Rock Hill Times. July 5. 1984 Revolutionary War. Always busy. Dr. Arrested by the British, Ramsay wrote frequently South Carolina's Story he was exiled to St. for medical journals. For Augustine for a time. his writing he received Next, Ramsay was an honorary medical elected to the Continental degree from Yale. Congress. For a year he Ramsay was a meteor The first recorded served as the president Fourth of July oration in tempore in the place of ologist and geographer. America was made by John Hancock. He had a "health map" David Ramsay of Charles While in Philadelphia, drawn up. He believed ton on July 4. 1778. Ramsay married a that climate, forestation. Ramsay, then 29 years of second time. His new and disease were inter related. Ramsay was the age and a member of the bride was Frances Legislature, excelled as Witherspoon, daughter of first to use the terms "upcountry" and "low- an orator. Thomas Y. the president of Prince Hayne described him as a country" to describe ton. Again, a tragedy South Carolina geo By Louise Pettus and "remarkable, fluent, rapid, and ready" speaker. befell. Frances con graphy. Ron Chepesiuk of the tracted scarlet fever and Winthrop College faculty David Ramsay was By interest and temper died after bearing a son. ament, David Ramsay born in a one-room stone John Witherspoon Ram cottage in Pennsylvania. had been described as say. At her request, the Charleston's first public He was the son of a poor baby was reared by the Irish laborer who, while health office. In many Witherspoons. ways his contributions to illiterate himself, recog David Ramsay began nized the genius of three Charleston's civic life work on his heralded can be compared with sons: William. Nathaniel, History of the American and David. All three of the contributions of Revolution. His father- Benjamin Franklin to his the Ramsay brothers in-law, Dr. Witherspoon. beloved Philadelphia. were to graduate from and his friend. Benjamin Ramsay, however, was Princeton with honors. Franklin, gave Ramsay not destined to com At age 6.David Ramsay valuable aid. was tutoring others and pletely emulate Dr. held a regular teaching Franklin's rags-to-riches position at a good Returning to Charles success story. academy at age 12. When ton. Ramsay decided to Ramsay's father-in- David qualified for the interview Henry Laurens law. Henry Laurens, was junior year at Princeton ("Tower Henry") for his a very wealthy man, and at age 13, the faculty viewpoint. In 1787 from him Martha Ram Ramsay married Lau decided he was too young say inherited a con rens' daughter, Martha. and should enter the siderable estate. Through sophomore class instead. She bore him 11 children. bad investments. Dr. In 1772, David Ramsay Ramsay lost his wife's received a medical David Ramsay's son estate and all that he had degree from the College Nathaniel was the first acquired, also. of Pennsylvania. Dr. South Carolinian to be Ramsay bought con Benjamin Rush, the best vaccinated against siderable slock in the doctor in the colonies, smallpox. Dr. Ramsay Santee Canal venture, in was Ramsay's mentor sent to Savannah for the a homespun manufac and champion. About vaccine. Ramsay, other turing company, and in a Ramsay,Rush wrote:"He wise a handsome man, Charleston water com is far superior to any had had one eye damaged pany. Each business held person we ever graduated by the pox in his own more promise than : at our college...his talents youth. profits. All failed. In 1811, Martha Ram and knowledge univer Charles Wilson Peale sal." and Rembrandt Peale, say died. Four years later A year later Ramsay America's leading por Ramsay was shot four set up a medical practice trait artists, both painted times in the back by a deranged man he had in Charleston and was Ramsay so that his soon involved in local afflicted eye was not previously examined and affairs. He married shown. David Ramsay's pronounced insane. On Sabrina Ellis of a brother. Nathaniel, was a his deathbed, Ramsay generously forgave the prominent family. She brother-in-law of the asassin. died within a year. Peales.