The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

tinguisht-'d men in medical science. In tiie folldwini; spring lie visited the
principal ciiies of Italj-, and for a while studied in the hospitals of London.
On ills return he at once resumed the ]5ractice of his profession. He boldly
and successfully attempted capital operations in surgery, and became the lead-
ing surgical operator and consulting physician for a large circuit. He fitted
up a well appointed dissecting-room, and the advantages of his instruction
were sought by many students to whom became known his superior knowledge
of Technical .Anatomy. In 1844 Dr. Cogswell received, but declined, an invi-
tation to occupy the chair of a Professor in the Medical Department of one of
the leading colleges in Xew England. He had a great desire to elevate the
standard of medical practice, and largely by his eiTorts the Esse.x North Medi-
cal Association was organized, which i:)ecame a vigorous branch of the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society. .^Iter Dr. Cogswell relinquished the active praciice
of liis profession, he still retained hi> membership in this society, participated
in its discussions of scientific .mil practical subjects, and contributed much to
its success.
Dr. Cogswell was called to till other positions of responsibility and trust.
He was elected President of the Union Bank in Haverhill. Mass.. at its organization
in 1849, •I"''' ^^'^^ elected to the same office when that institution became
the First National Bank in 1864, which position he still filled in 1884. For
many years he was the Mce- President of the Haverhill .Savings Bank, and for
a time the President of a Railroad Company He was an active member of
the Chapman Hall meeting in Boston, which organized the Republican party
in Massachusetts, with whith party he was ever in full accord. In 1852 he
was a member of the I'.lcciijr.d inlleuL. which gave the vote of Massachu-
setts for (ien. Winfield .Scott. In 185S and 1859 he was a member of the
Executive Council. Nathaniel 1'. Banks being the Governor of Massachusetts.
He was a delegate from the .Si.\th District of Massachusetts to the Chicago
Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for President in i860. In
1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln Collector of Internal Revenue
for the Si.xth District of Massachusetts. After holding this office for four
years, he was removed by President Johnson, without cause, and was reap-
pointed to the same office by President Grant in 1S70, which position he held
until 1875. when this district was consolidated with two other districts. This
was one of the largest and most important paying districis in the country, and
under the administration of Dr. Cogswell its affairs were contlucted with
marked efficienc}- and exactness. He was a member of the Electoral College
of 1868. which gave the vote of the State for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Dr.
Cogswell received the degree of A. M. from Dartmouth College in 1865. He
was always deeply interested in educational matters and gave some of his best
service to the management of important schools. He was for a long time a
Trustee of .\tkinson .\cademy. and of the Pealiody .Acadt-my of Science, in
Salem, Mass. For nearly fifty years he was a Trustee of Bradford .Acailemy.
and during most of this lime had the entire management of its financial
afifairs. His efficiency in this work is best illustrated by the splendid appoint-