Oliver Prescott

Background

He was born on April 27, 1731 at Groton, Massachussets, United States, the son of Benjamin and Abigail (Oliver) Prescott and a brother of William Prescott.

Education

He was graduated from Harvard in 1750, and after studying medicine under Dr. Ebenezer Robie of Sudbury. He was awarded an honorary degree of M. D. by Harvard in 1791.

Career

After studies he settled in Groton where he built up a successful practice. Military as well as medical matters early claimed his interest. Prior to the Revolution, he held various regimental commissions under the King in the provincial militia.

At the outbreak of hostilities between England and the colonies, he received appointment from the revolutionary government of Massachusetts as brigadier-general of the militia of Middlesex County, and later (1778) as major-general of militia throughout the commonwealth. During the British occupation of Boston, he was employed in detailing guards at bridges and other places to prevent Loyalist sympathizers from holding intercourse with the garrison. On April 17, 1775, by direction of the committees of safety and supplies, four pieces of rebel artillery at Concord were transferred to his custody at Groton, and thus escaped capture by the redcoats during their memorable expedition of April 19. On October 30 he was elected a member of the board of war but declined to serve.

After the Revolution his martial ardor found outlet in the suppression of Shays's Rebellion, during the course of which he was busily engaged in recruiting troops, arresting law-breakers, and dispatching intelligence of the movements of the insurgents to the state authorities. His civilian services were no less notable and varied than his military. He was a member of the supreme executive council from 1777 to 1780, justice of the peace and of the quorum, and judge of probate for Middlesex County from 1779 until his death.

Keenly interested in education, he was one of the original trustees of Groton Academy and the first president of the board. He was a president for many years of the Middlesex Medical Society, and of the Western Society of Middlesex Husbandmen. He died at Groton of pectoral dropsy.

Achievements

• Oliver Prescott was a prominent citizen of Groton: he was town clerk of Groton for thirteen years and selectman for over thirty. He served on many important town committees, including a committee (of which he was chairman) to protest against the Stamp Act, the Committee of Correspondence, and a committee charged with the duty of enforcing the Association of 1774. Besides, he was one of the original incorporators of the Massachusetts Medical Society and first president of Groton Academy.

Membership

He was a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society. In 1780 he was incorporated a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Personality

He was over six feet tall and inclined to corpulence. His courtly manners, engaging conversation, and considerate kindliness, especially to the needy and distressed, made him, despite his deafness in later years, a welcome figure to sick and well alike.

Connections

On February 19, 1756, he married Lydia, daughter of David Baldwin, of Watertown.

Father:

Benjamin Prescott

Mother:

Abigail (Oliver) Prescott

Spouse:

Lydia Baldwin

father-in-law:

David Baldwin

teacher:

Ebenezer Robie

brother:

William Prescott