He was born on January 25, 1764 at Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, the son of his father's fourth marriage and of his mother's third. His parents were Jonas Preston, a physician who had come to America from Yorkshire, England, some time before 1732, and Mary Pennell Lea Preston, née Yarnall. His boyhood was spent chiefly in Chester until the outbreak of the Revolution, when, his father having died some time previously, his mother settled in Wilmington, Delaware.
Education
In Wilmington he studied medicine with a Dr. Way and in 1783 and 1784 attended lectures at the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, being graduated there in the latter year. He then went to Europe and attended hospital lectures in Edinburgh, London, and Paris.
Career
Upon returning from studies to America he bought a farm near Chester, but soon sold it and spent some time in Georgia with General Wayne. He finally returned to Chester and built up a large medical practice being particularly noted as an obstetrician. He took an active interest in public affairs in Newtown, Delaware County.
At the time of the Whiskey Insurrection he volunteered his medical services and served in the field. From 1794 to 1800 he was a member of the lower house of the Pennsylvania legislature and from 1808 to 1811 sat in the state Senate. In 1816 he moved to Philadelphia.
In his later years he gave but little attention to his profession, devoting considerable time to the management of the fortune left him by his first wife. He was a director of the Bank of Pennsylvania and of the Schuylkill Navigation Company and took an active interest in the affairs of a number of benevolent institutions. His death occurred in Philadelphia.
Achievements
Religion
He was disowned by the Society of Friends, of which he was a member, but later was taken back into Meeting.
Connections
In 1794 he married Orpah Reese, a woman with a considerable fortune. After the death of his first wife, he married Jane Thomas, August 19, 1812.