John Jeffries II (March 23, 1796– July 1876) was an American ophthalmic surgeon who co-founded the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1824 with Edward Reynolds.[1][2][3] This organization, which began life as the Boston Eye Infirmary, became officially incorporated in 1826 and maintained that name until 1924 when it became Massachusetts Eye and Ear.[4] Jeffries and Reynolds were the only surgical staff until 1833 when the staff was expanded to include other assistant surgeons as well as an apothecary.[4] Jeffries resigned from this position in 1842 and had no other official interaction with the institution until his son Benjamin was named Surgeon of the Infirmary in 1867.[4]

John Jeffries II
Jeffries in 1865
BornMarch 23, 1796
Boston Massachusetts
Occupationophthalmic surgeon
Known forMassachusetts Eye and Ear

Early life and education edit

Jeffries was born in Boston.[4] His father was the physician and meteorologist John Jeffries.[4] He attended Harvard College at 15 and graduated in the class of 1815.[1] He received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard in 1819 and became a fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1826.[1] He married in 1820, and was the father of three daughters and five sons, one of whom was Benjamin Joy Jeffries, one of the creators of the New England Ophthalmological Society.[5][4][6] The family had a summer residence in East Boston in a neighborhood now known as Jeffries Point.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Dr. John Jeffries". The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. 95 (6). Massachusetts Medical Society: 155–159. 1876-08-10. doi:10.1056/nejm187608100950601. ISSN 0096-6762.
  2. ^ "Doctor John Jeffries Biographical Sketch, Surgeon and Meteorologist". Boston Travel and Tourism Guide. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  3. ^ "Careers". Mass Eye and Ear. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Snyder, Charles (1984). Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Studies on Its History. Boston, Massachusetts: MassachusettsEyeandEarInfirmary. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ "About NEOS". New England Ophthalmological Society. 1900-01-02. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  6. ^ a b Day, T.F. (1904). The Rudder. Fawcett Publications. p. 483. Retrieved 2021-04-12.