John ARCHER, Congress, MD (1741-1810)

ARCHER, John, (father of Stevenson Archer [1786-1848] and grandfather of Stevenson Archer [1827-1898]), a Representative from Maryland; born near Churchville, Harford (then Baltimore) County, Md., May 5, 1741; attended the West Nottingham Academy in Cecil County and was graduated from Princeton College in 1760; studied theology, but owing to a throat affection abandoned the same and began the study of medicine; was graduated as a physician from the College of Philadelphia in 1768, receiving the first medical diploma issued on the American continent; commenced the practice of his profession in Harford County in 1769; member of the Revolutionary committee 1774-1776; raised a military company during the Revolution; member of the first State constitutional convention of 1776; served in the State house of delegates 1777-1779; during the Revolutionary War was aide-de-camp to Gen. Anthony Wayne at Stony Point; June 1, 1779, was made a captain and subsequently a major in the Continental Army; elected as a Republican to the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Congresses (March 4, 1801-March 3, 1807); founded with his son, Dr. Thomas Archer, the medical and chirurgical faculty of Maryland in 1799; died at his country home, ‘Medical Hall,’ near Churchville, Harford County, Md., September 28, 1810; interment in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Churchville, Md.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present