John Paschall (205)

John Paschall (5 January 1706–11 April 1779) was a physician and a member of the American Philosophical Society via his 1768 election to the American Society. Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, he developed substantial medical knowledge despite receiving little formal education. In young adulthood he was drawn into Benjamin Franklin’s circle, becoming a subscriber to the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1742. Paschall enjoyed a solid medical reputation, consulting with APS members Dr. Thomas Bond and Dr. John Redman. A medication he prepared, the “Golden Elixir,” was widely praised for its efficacy in treating a variety of ailments. Paschall supplemented the income from his practice with land investments, farming, and the management of a thriving inn in Kingsessing called the Bell Tavern. His brother Stephen Paschall was an APS member. (PI)