Peter Parker (physician)

Peter Parker (1804–1888) was an American physician and missionary who introduced Western medical techniques in China. He is considered a pioneer in China's modern medical history.

Early Life and Education

Peter Parker was born on June 18, 1804, in Framingham, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University in 1831 and from the Yale Medical School in 1834. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1835.

Career

In 1834, Parker was appointed by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions as a medical missionary to China. He arrived in Canton (now Guangzhou) in 1835 and opened the Ophthalmic Hospital in 1835, which was later renamed the Guangzhou Boji Hospital. The hospital was the first western-style hospital in China.

Parker's work in China was groundbreaking. He introduced anesthesia in the form of ether and performed the first recorded surgical operation under anesthesia in China. He also trained Chinese medical students in Western medical techniques.

In addition to his medical work, Parker also served as a diplomat. He was appointed as the U.S. Commissioner to China in 1855 and played a significant role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Tientsin, which ended the Second Opium War.

Legacy

Parker's work in China had a profound impact on the development of modern medicine in the country. His hospital in Guangzhou is still in operation today and is considered a landmark in China's medical history.

See Also

• History of Medicine in China
• Medical Missionaries
• Second Opium War

References

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