The Early Years

Despite great tragedy and numerous obstacles over the past 180 years, MUSC has grown and continued with its mission of creating highly trained and talented medical professionals while serving to better the health of the citizens of South Carolina.

Many men and women can be credited with the success of MUSC. A few deserve special mention.

The University traces its origins to visionaries such as David Ramsay, M.D., who must be credited for first introducing the idea of a medical school in South Carolina. Dr. Ramsay was an incredible man. He was from Pennsylvania and graduated from medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, studying primarily under Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the founders of the first medical school in the United States.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay, M.D. (1749-1815)

The son of a Scottish-Irish Pennsylvania farmer, Ramsay started a very successful medical practice in Charlestown, South Carolina.

He was a fervent patriot during the American Revolution. As a result, he spent almost a year in a British prison in Saint Augustine during the American Revolution. He had a strong interest in the Constitution and was a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress. Dr. Ramsay was also known for his objections to the notion of slavery.

Dr. Ramsay is noted most for his contributions as a historian. He authored several respected books including, "The History of the American Revolution" (1789).

Unfortunately, Dr. Ramsey was killed by a crazed patient in 1815. Twenty years later, his dream and vision for a medical school in South Carolina was realized.

David Ramsay, probably delivered the first 4th of July oration ever given in America

The first faculty of the Medical College consisted predominantly of young men (only 2 were over the age of thirty). The following men formed the first faculty of the Medical College. Each has a unique story and all helped to create the Medical University of South Carolina:

First Faculty of the Medical College
Thomas Grimball Prioleau, M.D. 1786-1876 Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Infants	Edmund Ravenel, M.D. 1791- 1871 Professor of the Chemistry
Samuel Henry Dickson, M.D. 1789- 1872 Professor of the Institutes and Practice of Physic	Stephen Elliot, LL.D. 1771- 1830 Professor of Botany and Natural History
Henry Rutledge Frost, M.D. 1795- 1866 Professor of Materia Medica	John E. Holbrook, M.D. 1794- 1871 Professor of Anatomy
James Ramsay, M.D. 1798- 1832 Professor of Surgery
For more information about the history of MUSC, contact the Waring Historical Library.

Information For

University

Medical

Help & Contacts

The Early Years

David Ramsay, M.D. (1749-1815)

First Faculty of the Medical College