Rush, Benjamin (1745-1813)

American physician and public official. Committed to the cause of the American Revolution 1775-83, he was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and was named surgeon general of the Continental Army in 1777. From 1797 he was treasurer of the US Mint.

Born in Bayberry, Pennsylvania, Rush was educated at the College of New Jersey, and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1768. His involvement in agitation against Washington's leadership led to his resignation. After the war, Rush served on the medical faculty of the University of Pennsylvania 1780-97 and was active in public-health programmes.