Background
Joseph Lovell was born on December 22, 1788 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, the son of James S. and Deborah (Gorham) Lovell and the grandson of James Lovell.
Joseph Lovell was born on December 22, 1788 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, the son of James S. and Deborah (Gorham) Lovell and the grandson of James Lovell.
Lovell obtained his early education from Boston schools, after which he entered Harvard College, graduating in 1807. He at once began the study of medicine under Dr. Ingalls of Boston, and was graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1811, in the first class to receive the Doctor of Medicine degree. Prior to that time only the degree of Bachelor of Medicine had been awarded.
Lovell entered the army as surgeon of the 9th Infantry on May 15, 1812. He was but twenty-four years old, but he was much better educated than most medical men of his day. He was soon put in charge of the general hospital at Burlington, Vermont, which became known as a model. On June 30, 1814, he was appointed hospital surgeon and the next month he established a general hospital for 1, 100 patients at Williamsville, New York. All of his work was of a quality to excite the admiration of his superiors and he won praise from Generals Wilkinson, Scott, and Brown.
After the establishment of peace, Lovell continued in the service as hospital surgeon. In 1817, as chief medical officer of the Northern Department, he submitted to General Brown a paper discussing the causes of disease in the army. Naturally, in the total lack of any knowledge of bacteriology, the diseases were generally attributed to meteorological conditions, to insufficient clothing, and to insufficient or spoiled food. But Lovell also discussed medical administration, and he did it in such a way that this report, together with his excellent record, resulted in his appointment as surgeon-general in 1818 when the army was reorganized and a medical department established. He was at the time but thirty years old. He continued in office until his death.
He did much to establish the new corps in public and official esteem. At one time Secretary of War Eaton advised Congress that "the Surgeon General of the Army might be dispensed with, " but Lovell obtained permission to write a reply to be forwarded to Congress and as a result obtained a long-sought increase in his corps, instead of a reduction. Immediately upon becoming surgeon-general, Lovell also ordered all medical officers to submit quarterly reports of weather and of the incidence, prevalence, and causes of disease. From the medical reports were later compiled departmental reports of the greatest historical value. He also rendered a positive service to the army and the country in continually inviting attention to the great evils of the alcoholism of that day, and in bringing about, as he did in greater measure than any other single man, the abolition of the rum ration. After the Black Hawk War Lovell obtained another small increase in the size of his corps and he was seeking yet a third at the time of his death.
Lovell was a member of the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences.
Quotes from others about the person
"In all his relations, whether as christian philanthropist, profound scholar, skilful surgeon, experienced officer or true-hearted gentleman, he was one of whom the Medical Staff may always be proud and the memory of whose good life is written on every page of its history. " - Harvey E. Brown
Lovell was married to Margaret (Mansfield) Lovell. He had eleven children, one of whom was Mansfield Lovell.