Bird, Robert Montgomery (1803–1854) Robert Montgomery Bird, novelist and editor, was born in Newcastle, Delaware, in 1803 and died in Philadelphia, January 22, 1854, at the age of fifty. He was educated for the medical profession in Philadelphia, took his M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1827 and began practice there but soon turned his attention to literature, contributing three tragedies to the columns of the Monthly Magazine in Philadelphia. They were "The Gladiator," "Oraloosa" and "The Broker of Bogota." Edwin Forrest impersonated the chief character of "The Gladiator" and the play had a popular run. Between 1830 and 1840 Dr. Bird wrote six novels, among them being "Nick of the Woods, or the Jibbenainosay," "The Infidel," "Peter Pilgrim," his writing being marked by picturesqueness of description and an animated style. The scene of some of his works was placed in Mexico although Bird had never been in Latin America but he knew Spanish and made so good a study of the geography of the country and the habits of the people that Parkman and Prescott commended his accuracy. In 1839 he retired to his native village and cultivated a farm, and for a few years previous to his death edited the Philadelphia North-American, of which he became a proprietor.
Black, Green Vardiman (1836–1914)
Green V. Black was born in Scott County, Illinois, August 3, 1836, grandson of Captain William Black of the North Carolina militia just before the Mecklenburg Rebellion, and one of the first officers to refuse allegiance to the British Crown. Dr. Black was reared on a farm and had very limited schooling, but was an apt student and tireless reader. Like Lincoln he was endowed by nature for better things. He read medicine with his brother, Dr. T. G. Black. In 1858 he opened a dental office in Winchester, Ill. He served in the hospital corps about two years. In 1864 he began dentistry in Jacksonville, Ill. He taught chemistry to the school teachers and gave instruction in microscopy to medical students. He successsfully passed the examination given by the state board of health in 1878 and was licensed to practise medicine. He was elected a member of the Moyan County Medical Society in 1880 and frequently presented papers to that organization. Dr. Black's great work was done after 1870. He was for ten years lecturer on pathology in the Missouri Dental College, St. Louis; then in the dental department of the Iowa State University. In 1890 he was appointed dean of the dental department of the Northwestern-University, and remained in this position for twenty-six years. Under his direction this became the largest dental school in the world. He was the first president of the Illinois State Board of Dental Examiners, president of the American Dental and Illinois State Dental Association, honorary president of the International Dental Association during the World's Fair in St. Louis, 1904.
Dr. Black's published books have been translated into German, French and Spanish. In 1909 he visited Europe on the invitation of the American Dental Association in Europe and delivered addresses in the leading capitals. He invented and patented the first cord transmission dental engine and many of the present dental operations are due to his genius. He invented one of the best staphylorraphy needles for his friend Dr. David Prince (q.v.), now in use by many who do not know of the inventor.
After his death the American Dental Association erected a beautiful monument in Jackson Park, Chicago, to his memory. This was dedicated in 1917. No man ever bore the high honors bestowed on him with more modesty than Dr. Black. He was almost worshipped by the dental profession.
His talented sons, Dr. Carl E. Black of Jacksonville, and Dr. Arthur D. Black, perpetuated his name.
Black, John Janvier (1837–1909)
John J. Black, United States surgeon and resident physician to the Blockley Hospital, was born in Delaware City on November 6, 1837, the son of Charles H. and Anne Janvier Black, the mother coming of an old Huguenot family. He studied at Princeton, New Jersey, and was given its honorary A. M. in 1907, His M. D. was from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1862.
He settled in practice in New Castle, Delaware, and was specially interested in the anti-tuberculosis crusade and the care of the insane and was president of the Delaware Insane Asylum, being energetic in instituting the Delaware State Hospital. As a surgeon he eagerly studied all that was new, yet on his long country rounds of thirty to forty miles he did successful operations with the poorest accessories, a scrupulous cleanliness being the
