Lemuel Hopkins
Lemuel Hopkins was a prominent physician and satirical poet in late eighteenth-century Connecticut. Born to a farmer and his wife, he began his medical training in the late 1760s and established his own practice in Litchfield in 1776. During the Revolutionary War, he briefly served in the army before relocating to Hartford in 1784, where he continued to practice medicine until his death. Recognized as a specialist in tuberculosis, he earned the title of Master of Arts from Yale in 1784 and co-founded the Connecticut Medical Society. In addition to his medical career, Hopkins was a key member of the Connecticut Wits, a literary group that produced notable works such as "The Anarchiad: A New England Poem." He was known for his satirical poetry, which included a series of poems published annually in the Connecticut Courant that critiqued political events of the previous year. His contributions to both medicine and literature left a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Connecticut.
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Lemuel Hopkins
Writer
- Born: June 19, 1750
- Birthplace: Waterbury, Connecticut
- Died: April 14, 1801
Biography
Lemuel Hopkins was a well-respected physician, known in late eighteenth century Connecticut for his progressive medical techniques. His satirical poetry was his most memorable work. Hopkins was born to Stephen Hopkins, a farmer, and Dorothy Talmadge Hopkins. He began studying medicine in the late 1760’s under the tutelage of Dr. Jared Potter and Dr. Seth Bird. In 1776, Hopkins set up his own practice in Litchfield, Connecticut, where he stayed until 1784. At the time of the Revolutionary War, though, Hopkins left for a short period of time to volunteer in the army. He moved to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1784, and established another practice; he stayed here until he passed away.
Hopkins was a member of a group of authors called the Connecticut Wits. It was with this literary circle that Hopkins wrote most of his work. Their first and most memorable publication was “The Anarchiad: A New England Poem,” which appeared in the New-Haven Gazette and the Connecticut Magazine between 1786 and 1787. Hopkins, along with several others, wrote The Echo, a satiric verse series that appeared in the Connecticut Courant and the American Mercury from 1791 to 1805. He also published a poem every New Year’s for the Connecticut Courant, starting in 1795; his poems satirically analyzed the previous year’s political events.
Hopkins was well respected as Connecticut’s top tuberculosis specialist. He was honored as a Master of Arts at Yale in 1784. Hopkins was also a founder of the Connecticut Medical Society.
A man of independent thoughts and various talents, Hopkins made quite an impact on the state of Connecticut. Although he wrote in collaboration with the other members of the Connecticut Wits, Hopkins was most responsible for writing the essays. Hopkins, not only a great physician, was also a man who prided himself on his satirical works that caught the attention of many readers.