Abijah Cheever (May 23, 1760 – April 21, 1843) was an American

surgeon In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...

and politician from Saugus, Massachusetts.

Early life

Cheever was born on May 23, 1760, in Saugus. He was a descendant of

Ezekiel Cheever Ezekiel Cheever (1614–1708) was a schoolmaster, and the author of "probably the earliest American school book", ''Accidence, A Short Introduction to the Latin Tongue''. Upon his death, it was said that "New England adnever known a better tea ...

, longtime headmaster of the

Boston Latin School The Boston Latin School is a public exam school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was established on April 23, 1635, making it both the oldest public school in the British America and the oldest existing school in the United States. Its curriculum f ...

. Cheever spent much of his youth working on his family's farm.

American Revolution

On the evening before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Cheever ran bullets from a mold over a fire for the muskets of his brothers, who took part in the battle the following day. In 1779 Cheever graduated from Harvard College. He then studied medicine and surgery under

John Warren John Warren may refer to: Medicine * John Warren (surgeon) (1753–1815), American surgeon during the Revolutionary War * John Collins Warren (1778–1856), American surgeon * John Collins Warren Jr. (1842–1927), American surgeon, son of John C ...

and obtained his M. D. in 1782. On May 13, 1782 Cheever was commissioned as a surgeon aboard ''Tartar'', a ship fitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for service in the American Revolution. On the ship's second voyage, it was captured by and Cheever was sent to a prison ship in

New York Harbor New York Harbor is at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into New York Bay near the East River tidal estuary, and then into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. It is one of the largest natural harbors in t ...

. Once the war ended, Cheever was exchanged and returned to Massachusetts.

Boston

After the war, Cheever settled in Boston's North End, where he worked as a physician and surgeon. On July 5, 1789, he married Elizabeth Scott. The couple had three children before her death on July 5, 1795. On October 16, 1798, he married Sally Williams, with whom he had two children.

Return to Saugus

Cheever returned to Saugus in 1806 and remained there for the rest of his life. Cheever was one of Saugus' largest land owners with over two-hundred acres. He was also one of Saugus' few slave holders. On his family's land he built an elegant home that became well known throughout the region. In 1815, Cheever was elected to Saugus' first Board of Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor. In 1821, 1829, 1830, and 1831, Cheever represented Saugus in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. During his political career, Cheever frequently competed with his brother Joseph Cheever. Cheever died on April 21, 1843.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheever, Abijah 1760 births 1843 deaths American military doctors Physicians from Massachusetts American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain American surgeons Harvard College alumni Massachusetts Federalists Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives People from North End, Boston People from Saugus, Massachusetts Boston Latin School alumni American slave owners