Episode 276: Stephen Fried, Benjamin Rush: Founding Father

by Liz CovartJune 16, 2020

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Who gets to be a founding father?

“Founding Father” status goes to men who helped found the United States. That means the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, those who led the Continental Army, and the 36 delegates who signed the Constitution. We’re talking about more than 100 men and yet, we don’t really talk about more than a handful of these “founders” as Founders.

Stephen Fried, an award-winning journalist and author of Rush: Revolution, Madness, and Benjamin Rush, the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father, joins us to explore the life and deeds of one founder we don’t always talk about, Benjamin Rush.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

Episode Summary

Stephen Fried, an award-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author, and author of Rush: Revolution, Madness, and Benjamin Rush, the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father, joins us to explore the life and deeds of one founder we don’t always talk about, Benjamin Rush.

During our investigation into Benjamin Rush’s life, Stephen reveals who Benjamin Rush was and details about both his political and civilian careers; Rush’s contributions to both the political aspect of the American Revolution and the military aspect of the Revolution; And, why we haven’t heard a whole lot about Benjamin Rush until fairly recently.

What You’ll Discover

The story behind the Rush title
How Stephen came to study Benjamin Rush
The early life of Benjamin Rush
Rush’s medical training and practice
Why Benjamin Rush became a revolutionary
Rush’s involvement with Common Sense
Benjamin Rush and the Declaration of Independence
Rush’s involvement with the military side of the American Revolution
Benjamin Rush as surgeon general of the Middle Department
Rush’s wartime medical lessons
Rush’s decision to leave the Continental Army medical service
Benjamin Rush’s interest in mental health
Rush’s relationship with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
How Rush helped Adams and Jefferson resolve their differences
The mental health of John Rush
Rush’s personal papers and why access has been so limited
Benjamin Rush’s death and legacy

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Time Warp Question

In your opinion, how might Benjamin Rush have been remembered differently by history if his family had not restricted access to his papers as long as they did?