When was marcus whitman born

He was ordained as an elder of the church in The Reverend H. I write at this time to make known to you the request of Doctor Marcus Whitman. He is a young man of about 30 or 35 years of age, of solid, judicious mind, of, as I hope and believe, more than ordinary piety and perseverance, a regular bred Physician, has practiced several years with good success and credit.

He is, in my opinion well qualified to act as a Missionary Physician. Although I know not that he thinks of it, yet I think he might, if thought expedient after a time, be ordained to advantage. He has formerly been in poor health, but is now better, and thinks a station with some of our western Indians would be useful to him. He has thought of being a Missionary for some time past, and I think him better qualified to do good in that capacity than most young men with whom I am acquainted.

He would be glad to hear from you soon, as, should he go, he would have some worldly concerns to arrange. Whitman, resulting in Whitman writing the American Board in June I regard the Heathen as not having retained the knowledge of the true God and as perishing as described by St.

I esteem it the duty of every Christian to seek the advancement of the cause of Christ more truly than they are wont to their own favorite objects. I pray that I may have only such feelings in desiring to be received as a helper in the Missionary Cause. I am ready to go to any field of usefulness at the direction of the A. I will cooperate as Physician, Teacher or Agriculturalist so far as I may be able if required.

I am not married and I have no present arrangement upon that Subject. Yet I think I should wish to take a wife, if the service of the Board would admit. I am in my thirty-second year. My mind has long been turned to the missionary subject. For the last six months, I have been more intent upon it than before. I wish soon to have a definite course. Marcus Whitman was an American physician, missionary, and pioneer whose death, at his medical and agricultural mission, was instrumental in passage of the act to make Oregon a Federal territory.

Born at Rushville, N. After receiving his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, he practiced as a doctor for eight years: four years in Canada and four years at Wheeler, N.

In Whitman applied for a missionary position as "physician, teacher, or agriculturist" with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and was sent to Oregon with the Reverend Samuel Parker.

At the Green River rendezvous they met several Indian tribes who so fervently requested missionary help that the two men returned east to ready men to go west. Then, in company with the Reverend and Mrs. Henry H. In , Whitman attempted to join the American Board of Commissions for Foreign Missions, but he was denied for health reasons. Regardless, he continued to plead his case, and within the year he was allowed to travel with missionary Samuel Parker to present-day Montana and Idaho, where the two men ministered to local Native Americans.

During his stay, Whitman also treated several cases of cholera contracted by white fur trappers. Her dreams were fulfilled only shortly afterward, when the couple joined several other missionaries and traders on an expedition headed west. Whitman worked as a farmer and doctor, while his wife opened a school for native children.

In , Whitman travelled east, returning with a large group of covered wagons that would eventually inspire the long trek along the Oregon Trail. Six years earlier, Narcissa had given birth to the first white American born in the Oregon County, but unfortunately the little girl passed away at age two, when she drowned in the Walla Walla River. They were not very supportive of his goal, perhaps because it took seven years to become a minister- four years of college, followed by three years in a theological seminary- or perhaps because one of the family businesses was a tavern and the Second Great Awakening strengthened support for temperance.

At the time, becoming a doctor required less schooling than becoming a minister, so Marcus instead began studying medicine. He was an apprentice to Rushville's doctor for possibly up to two years and may have spent some of that time teaching. In , he enrolled in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York, Fairfield; after sixteen weeks, he was qualified for a license to practice medicine.

He went to Canada to put his license to use, spending about two and a half years in the Niagara District before returning to Rushville. When he returned, Marcus was still interested in becoming a minister. He began pursuing the ministry, but his studies were cut short by illness and never completed. After receiving his M. Due to the ill health that had prevented Marcus from completing his ministerial studies, the ABCFM was hesitant to accept him as a missionary and did not appoint him as such at that time.

After later receiving more letters recommending Dr. Whitman to the Board, the Board met in and appointed Dr. Whitman as a missionary doctor.