Farquharson, Robert James

Born at Nashville, TN; graduated the medical dept. of the University of Pennsylvania, 1844. Joined the U.S. Navy in 1847 as an assistant surgeon; profoundly deafened while serving on the U.S.S. Taney off the coast of Africa. Resigned from the Navy in 1855. During the Civil War, was appointed surgeon to the Fourth Tennessee Infantry regiment. Resigned in 1863 due to his deafness and took charge of a hospital in Nashville, then in 1868 moved to Davenport, IA. Helped to found the Academy of Sciences, and served as its President; worked as a consulting physician, developing an interest in ethnography in his later years.