APS Members Bibliography

Hugh Williamson (81)

Election date: 1768 (Elected to the revived American Philosophical Society.)

Hugh Williamson (5 December 1735–22 May 1819) was an educator, merchant, physician, statesman, and scientist, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1768. Born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Williamson attended APS member Francis Alison’s New London Academy and the College of Philadelphia. He initially pursued a divinity degree but changed course to study medicine, first attending Edinburgh University before graduating from the University of Utrecht in 1766. The following year he returned to Philadelphia where he began his own medical practice. He was an active member of the APS and published in the Society’s Transactions; his essays included writings on the Transit of Venus and a pioneering study of climate change in the mid-Atlantic. Ever energetic, Williamson then entered provincial politics, advocating for the proprietary cause. While waiting to depart from Boston harbor on a fundraising mission to London for Alison’s academy in 1773, Williamson had the unexpected opportunity to witness the Boston Tea Party. Upon his arrival in London this experience provided an entrée into imperial affairs when he was summoned to inform the Privy Council about the event and about the general mood in the colonies. His return voyage to Philadelphia in 1777 met with disappointment when he failed to find the medical position he desired within the Continental Army. Its loss proved North Carolina’s gain; Williamson served as the physician-general and surgeon general of North Carolina’s troops where his attention to camp living conditions, including sanitation and inoculations, significantly decreased camp death rates. Following the war his work as a public official intensified. He was elected to the North Carolina State Assembly in 1782, to the Continental Congress, and eventually to the House of Representatives of the first federal Congress. (PI, DNB, ANB)

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.001

A discourse on the benefits of civil history : delivered before the New York Historical Society, December 6, 1810.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

New York: s.n., 1810.

Subjects:

History.

Record Source:

AAS

References:

Shaw-Shoemaker 22063

APS Subjects:

History

Editions:

1x 1810

Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS has one copy. View Holding

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.002

The history of North Carolina.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

Philadelphia: Published by Thomas Dobson, At the Stone House, no. 41, South street. Fry and Kammerer, printers, 1812.

Subjects:

North Carolina -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.

Record Source:

LCP

References:

Sabin 104449 | Howes W 494

APS Subjects:

History

Editions:

1x 1812

Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.003

Letters from Sylvius to the freemen inhabitants of the United States : containing some remarks on the scarcity of money; paper currency; national dress; foreign luxuries; the foederal [sic] debt; and public taxes.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

New York: Printed by Carroll & Patterson, no. 16, Water-Street, [1787]

Subjects:

Costume -- United States. | Paper money -- United States. | Taxation -- United States.

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

Sabin 104450 | Evans 20887

APS Subjects:

Economics

Editions:

1x 1787

Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.004

Observations on the climate in different parts of America, compared with the climate in corresponding parts of the other continent : to which are added, remarks on the different complexions of the human race; with some account of the aborigines of America : being an introductory discourse to The history of North-Carolina.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

New York: Printed and sold by T. & J. Swords, No. 160 Pearl-street, 1811.

Subjects:

Indians -- Origin. | Human beings -- Effect of environment on. | Black race. | America -- Climate. | Afro-Americana.

Record Source:

LCP

References:

Sabin 104451 | Shaw-Shoemaker 124459 | Howes W 495

APS Subjects:

Editions:

1x 1811

Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS has one copy, presented by John Vaughan. View Holding

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.005

The plain dealer : numb. II. being a tickler, for the leisure hour's amusement of the author of cool thoughts : wherein the force of his several arguments in favour of a change of government is stated in a clear light and accomodated [sic] to the comprehension of readers of every capacity : by X.Y.Z. gentleman : to be continued.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

Philadelphia: Printed [by A. Steuart] in Second-street, where numb. I. may be had, 1764.

Subjects:

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. Cool thoughts on the present situation of publick affairs. | Pennsylvania -- Govt -- Colonial period.

Record Source:

NYPL

References:

Sabin 63213 | Sabin 104453 | Evans 9877

APS Subjects:

American Revolution | Politics

Editions:

1x 1764

Editions Note:

One edition. The NYPL records suggests that Williamson may not have been the author.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.006

The plain dealer : or, a few remarks upon Quaker-politicks, and their attempts to change the government of Pennsylvania : with some observations on the false and abusive papers which they have lately publish’d : numb. I : to be continued.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

Philadelphia: Printed [by Andrew Steuart], [1764]

Subjects:

Quakers -- Pennsylvania. | Society of Friends -- Controversial literature. | Pennsylvania -- Politics and government -- To 1775.

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

Sabin 104452 | Sabin 104453 | Evans 9875 | Evans 9876

APS Subjects:

American Revolution | Politics

Editions:

2x 1764

Editions Note:

Two editions, both published in Philadelphia in 1764. The second edition bears the slightly different title, The plain dealer; numb. I : or a few remarks upon Quaker-politics, and their attempts to change the government of Pennsylvania...

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.007

The plain dealer : or, remarks on Quaker politicks in Pennsylvania : numb. III : to be continued.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

Philadelphia: Printed [by William Dunlap], [1764]

Subjects:

Society of Friends -- Political activity -- Pennsylvania. | Quakers -- Pennsylvania. | Antiquakeriana. | Pennsylvania -- Politics and government -- To 1775. | 1764.

Record Source:

APS

References:

Evans 9878 | Sabin 104453

APS Subjects:

American Revolution | Politics

Editions:

1x 1764

Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS has two copies. View Holding

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.008

The plea of the colonies, on the charges brought against them by Lord M-------d, and others, in a letter to his lordship.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

London: Printed for J. Almon, 1775.

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

Sabin 63401 | Sabin 63402 | Evans 15713 | Howes W 497

APS Subjects:

American Revolution | Politics

Editions:

1x 1775 (London), 1x 1776 (London), 1x 1777 (Philadelphia)

Editions Note:

Three editions: one in 1775 (London), one in 1776 (London), and one in 1777 (Philadelphia). In the 1777 edition, the title includes the entire name of Lord Mansfield.

Holding Note: APS has one copy of the 1777 edition. View Holding

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.009

Remarks on the importance of the contemplated grand canal, between Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

[S.l.], 1812.

Subjects:

Erie Canal (NY).

Record Source:

HUNT

References:

Sabin 104454 | Shaw-Shoemaker 26370 | Howes W 496

APS Subjects:

Commerce | Surveying

Editions:

1x 1812

Editions Note:

One edition. Per Sabin, marginalia in a copy housed at the New York Historical Society attributes the text to Williamson, but his authorship remains disputed.

Holding Note: One edition. Per Sabin, marginalia in a copy housed at the New York Historical Society attributes the text to Williamson, but his authorship remains disputed. View Holding

Member(s): Hugh Williamson

81.010

What is sauce for a goose is also sauce for a gander : being a small touch in the lapidary way : or tit for tat, in your own way : an epitaph on a certain great man : written by a departed spirit and now most humbly inscrib’d to all his dutiful sons and children, who may hereafter chose to distinguish him by the name of a patriot.

Creator(s):

Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 (Author)

Publication:

Philadelphia: Printed [by Anthony Armbruster] in Arch-Street, 1764

Subjects:

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 -- Anecdotes.

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

Sabin 104455 | Evans 9879

APS Subjects:

Politics

Editions:

2x 1764

Editions Note:

Two editions published in 1764, both in Philadelphia. Satirical epitaph on Benjamin Franklin.

Holding Note: APS has one copy. View Holding