To George Washington from William Shippen, Jr., 4 January 1781
From William Shippen, Jr.
Philadelphia 4th January 1781.
Sir
As the congress are of opinion that the duties of the Director of the hospitals are incompatible with those of the Professor of Anatomy & finding a great number of young gentlemen from different parts of America waiting here for my course of Lectures—I have sent in my resignation, convinced I can be of much more use to the public, by fitting young gentlemen to act as Surgeons in the army where good ones are much wanted, than by continuing Director of hospitals now in so good order & containing so few sick or wounded.1 I flatter myself that during my Directorship I have performed the duties of my station to your Excellencys approbation, have always paid a chearful obedience to Your commands, & made the sick and wounded of your army as comfortable & easy as the times & circumstances of the war would admit. A Testimony of this from your Excellency will be very pleasing & recieved wth gratitude.2 I have the honor to be with the most sincere & earnest wishes for your health happiness & glory Your most affectionate most obedient & most humble Servt
W. Shippen Jr
Mrs & Miss Shippen & Dr Lee present the compliments of the Season to yourself & Lady.3
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. On 24 Nov. 1780, Congress ordered Shippen to “repair to head quarters and put himself under the orders of the Commander in Chief” (, 18:1090–91). In his resignation letter of 3 Jan. 1781, Shippen informed Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, that from those orders he had “reason to believe, [Congress] think the duties of the professor of anatomy are incompatible with those of the Director of the hospitals” (DNA:PCC, item 78). Congress read and accepted Shippen’s resignation letter on the same date (see , 19:15). The University of the State of Pennsylvania (formerly the College of Philadelphia and now the University of Pennsylvania) had elected Shippen Professor of Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery in May 1780, a position he retained until resigning in 1806.
2. GW replied to Shippen on 13 February. Shippen had been a controversial director general of Continental army hospitals (see General Orders, 13 March 1780, and n.1 to that document).
3. Arthur Lee was Shippen’s brother-in-law.