Dr. Usher Parsons, Acting Surgeon During the Battle of Lake Erie

Dr. Usher Parsons was the Acting Surgeon aboard the Brig Niagara during the Battle of Lake Erie, which took place on September 10, 1813, during the War of 1812. Click here to read an account of how Dr. Parsons provided medical care to ninety-six wounded men aboard the Lawrence, Niagara, and another smaller vessel during the Battle of Lake Erie. In A TREATISE ON MILITARY SURGERY AND HYGIENE, by Frank Hastings Hamilton, published by the Baillière Brother in 1865, we read how Dr. Parsons managed men with compound and simple fractures, severe lacerations, and injuries which resulted in several amputations. There were only three deaths of the wounded men under Parsons' care. (Of course there were numerous battle casualties for both the British and United States during the Battle of Lake Erie.) You can read more about Dr. Usher Parsons at the Rhode Island Historical Society's website. Visit FindaGrave to view an image of the tombstone of Dr. Usher Parsons at the Swan Point Cemetery. Dr. Parsons died on December 19, 1868, after having lived a full life as a physician, historian, and genealogist.

Note: Image of Dr. Parsons from Wikipedia.