Birth: 1775, Aug. 28
Death: 1857, May 19
Occupation: doctor

Associated Counties

• Baltimore City
• Cecil
• Harford

Directories

Date	Name	Occupation	Address	City
1799	Archer	doctor	N Gay Street [removal]	Baltimore
1799	R. H. Archer	doctor	Bridge Street, OT	Baltimore
1800-1801	Robert Archer	doctor	60 N. Gay Street	Baltimore
1802	Robert Archer	M.D.	near Baltimore in North Frederick Street	Baltimore
1803	Robert Archer	M.D.	next B. Schaffer’s dwelling, N Frederick Street	Baltimore
1804	Robert Archer	M.D.	N Frederick Street	Baltimore

Additional Information

Dates: 1775-1857
Notes: ARCHER, ROBERT HARRIS, M.D., the second son of John Archer, M.B., was born in Harford County, Maryland, August 28, 1775. He received as good an English education as was at that time afforded in his native country; becoming also quite proficient in Latin, and acquiring some knowledge of French. After the usual medical course in his father’s office, he completed his studies in the University of Pennsylvania, in 1794-5, and 1795-6. In the spring of 1798, he moved to Baltimore, where for about seven years he enjoyed a large practice. Soon after settling in that city, and while the yellow fever was raging there, he was appointed physician in to the City Hospital, which was crowded with sufferers from that disease. Seized himself with the epidemic, he came near losing his life. In 1799 he was commissioned by the Governor, Surgeon of the 27th regiment of State Militia. On the 5th of April, 1805, he married Miss Mary Stump, daughter of John Stump of Cecil County. In the autumn of the same year, on the invitation of a former student of his father (Dr. Author May), he removed to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He does not seem to have received very favorable impressions of that city, which at that time was a very paradise of quacks, where scientific skill had small chance of appreciation. Accordingly, in 1809, he returned to Maryland, where he practiced medicine (in connection with farming) in Cecil County, for ten years, when he was elected to the State Legislature, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected. In 1822 he removed to Harford County, having purchased a farm within a mile of his birthplace. In 1823 he was appointed by the Legislature one of the Governor’s council of five, and re-appointed yearly for four consectutive years, embracing two years of Governor Steven’s term, and the whole of Governor Kent’s. The loss of nearly all his property in his old age, compelled him to practice his profession even after he had become an octogenarian — his intellect remaining in extraordinary vigor. His professional career thus extended considerably over sixty years. During the last decade of his life, he served for several years as Judge of the Orphans’ Court. He died at his home, of apoplexy, 19th May, 1857, in his eighty-second year. His widow survived him seven years. He was a large man, of strong constitution and fine appearance. He left six sons and a daughter. Four of the former married and had children. Three of his sons and as many of his grandsons served in the Confederate Army. Dr. Archer’s mind was of no common order, and in professional skill he was surpassed by few of his contemporaries. Socially, he formed the warmest attachments. For more than half a century he was a member of, and during the greater part of that time an elder, in the Presbyterian Church. Cyc. 42
Source: Dielman – Hayward File. Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, MD. Drawer 105.

Dates: 1775-1857
Notes: BIOGRAPHY
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 57

Dates: 1775-1857
Notes: [Admitted to MedChi 1801(?)] Born in Harford County, Md., August 28, 1775. Pupil of his father (John Archer, M.B.); practiced at Baltimore, 1798-1805; Physician to City Hospital, Baltimore; Surgeon, Twenty-seventh Regiment of Maryland Militia, 1799; at Lancaster, Pa., 1805-09; practiced in Cecil County, Md., 1809-19; Censor, 1819; Member of Legislature, 1819-23; removed to Harford County, 1822; on Governor’s Council, 1823-27; Judge of the Orphans’ Court, 1847-57. Died May 19, 1857.
Source: Cordell, Eugene Fauntleroy, Medical Annals of Maryland 1799-1899 Baltimore: The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty for the State of Maryland: 305

Dates: 1799
Notes: Surg. 27th Reg. Md.
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 239

Dates: 1800
Notes: Served in Maryland House of Delegates, 1800
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 249.

Dates: 1801, Jan 9.
Notes: “Baltimore General Dispensary organized by Drs. Crawford, James Smith, Robert H. Archer et al. (incorporated 1807).”
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 22.

Dates: 1801-1803
Notes: Served as Attending Physician, Baltimore General Dispensary, 1801-1803
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 251;
Baxley, C. Herbert, ed., A History of the Baltimore General Dispensary Baltimore: Baltimore General Dispensary Foundation, Inc.: 109.

Dates: 1811
Notes: Surgeon, commissioned 05/17/1811, 30th Regiment, Cecil County.
Source: Marine, William M., The British Invasion of Maryland, 1812-1815 Baltimore: John H. Saumenig & Co.

Dates: 1818-1891
Notes: Tombstone, Stevenson Archer, son of Dr. Robert Harris and Mary Archer
Source: Gravestone found on personal visit, February 24, 2007. Churchville Presbyterian Church, 2844 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028.

Dates: 1825-1829
Notes: Served as Judge of Orphans Court, 1825-1829
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 248

Dates: 1826
Notes: Served as Member of General Council, 1826.
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 249

Dates: 1857
Notes: Dr. Robert Harris Archer (son Jon. A., M.B.) ob. aet. 82.
Source: Quinan, John Russell, Medical Annals of Baltimore from 1608 to 1880, including Events, Men and Literature to which is added a Subject Index and Record of Public Services Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald: 41

Dates: died 1864
Notes: Gravemarker, Mary Archer (1788-1864), wife of Dr. Robert Harris Archer
Source: Gravestone found on personal visit, February 24, 2007. Churchville Presbyterian Church, 2844 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028.

Dates: died 1899
Notes: Tombstone, Hannah S. Archer (1822-1899), daughter of Dr. Robert Harris and Mary Archer
Source: Gravestone found on personal visit, February 24, 2007. Churchville Presbyterian Church, 2844 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028.