This Day In Founding Fathers History – 10 May

The Day in Founding Fathers History – 10 May

On this day in 1736, Charity Hospital opened at Chartres and Bienville Streets in New Orleans. Jean Louis, a French seaman and ship builder, willed his property for “the founding of a hospital for the sick of the City of New Orleans.” The hospital was initially called Hospital of Saint John or L’Hospital des Pauvres de la Charite (Hospital for the Poor). It is the second oldest continuing public hospital in the U.S. ₁

In 1797 on this day, the USS United States launched. It was one of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. The ship was a 1576-ton sailing frigate built in Philadelphia. She was active during the Quasi-War with France and during the War of 1812. The USS United States was captured by the Confederates in 1861 and placed into Southern service as CSS United States but sank when Norfolk was abandoned a year later. The U.S. Navy salvaged the ship but it was deemed unworthy of repair. ₂

One notable birthday on this day in 1730, that of George Ross. Ross was born in Delaware to a large family. He studied law with his brother John and then opened his own practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ross served as Crown Prosecutor (attorney general) to Carlisle and was later elected to the provincial legislature. He was a colonel in the Pennsylvania militia and served as vice president of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention. Ross also served in the Continental Congress as a delegate for Pennsylvania, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. ₃

_{1 “The Beginnings of Charity Hospital,” LSU Health Interim LSU Public Hospital, www.mclno.org/MCLNO//Menu/Hospital/History/CharitysBeginnings.aspx
2 “USS United States (1797),” Wikipedia.org; “USS United States (1797-1861), later CSS United States,” Naval History & Heritage, www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-u/u-states.htm
3 “George Ross,” Signers of the Declaration of Independence, www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/ross.htm; “George Ross,” colonialhall.com/ross/ross.php} 

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