James Miles Langstaff (June 3, 1825 – August 5, 1889) was a Canadian physician and the reeve of Richmond Hill, Ontario in 1880 and a village councillor there in 1878.[1]
James Miles Langstaff | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 3, 1825 Langstaff Corners, Upper Canada |
| Died | August 5, 1889 |
| Resting place | Richmond Hill Presbyterian Cemetery |
| Occupation | Doctor |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Ann Miller Louisa Palmer) |
Langstaff was born in Richmond Hill, at the Langstaff residence, an area then known as Langstaff Corners (now near Highway 7 and Yonge Street). He was the son of Jon Langstaff and Lucy Miles[2] and grandson of Abner Mills.
Langstaff first studied medicine as a "house pupil" under John Rolph in Toronto. He later travelled to study in England, at Guy's Hospital in London.[2][3] After completing his schooling, he was licensed by the Upper Canada Medical Board[4] and he set up a medical practice in Unionville in April 1849 but after only four months relocated it to Richmond Hill. In 1850 and 1851, Langstaff was listed as a professor at Rolph's Toronto School of Medicine.
Langstaff also owned a sawmill in the area.[2] Although his fees were the same as those suggested by the local medical association, he often did not collect them from the poor, or reduced them for various reasons, and the addition income from the sawmill was needed to support his family.
In 1878, Langstaff was elected to the Richmond Hill Village Council as a councillor. He served one year. In 1880, he was elected to the council as reeve.
Langstaff died in 1889, still an active doctor.[2]
Family and legacy
editLangstaff married Mary Ann Miller in 1854. The couple had ten children, with three surviving to adulthood. The academic Phyllis Grosskurth (1924–2015) was his granddaughter.Connor, Jennifer J (1996). "Life Writing in Medical History". Canadian Bulletin of Medical History. 13 (1): 123–137. doi:10.3138/cbmh.13.1.123. ISSN 0823-2105. In 1882, the widowed Langstaff married Louisa Palmer, with whom he had four additional children.
Langstaff Secondary School in Richmond Hill was opened in 1964 and named in his honour.[3] Dr. James Langstaff Park in Richmond Hill is also named in his honour.[5] It is part of the Langstaff Discovery Centre whose name more generally honours his family line.
References
edit- ^ Robert M. Stamp (1991). "Appendix F. Community Organizations". Early Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community to 1930. Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
- ^ a b c d Duffin, Jacalyn (1988). "A Rural Practice in Nineteenth-Century Ontario: The continuing medical education of James Miles Langstaff". Canadian Bulletin of Medical History. 5 (1): 3–28. doi:10.3138/cbmh.5.1.3. ISSN 0823-2105. PMID 11621499. Archived from the original on November 25, 2004.
- ^ a b "Langstaff S.S." York Region District School Board. Archived from the original on 2006-05-09.
- ^ C. Stuart Houston (September 22, 1994). "Book Review:The History of Medicine Langstaff: A Nineteenth-Century Medical Life". New England Journal of Medicine. 331. doi:10.1056/nejm199409223311221.
- ^ "The Park" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-16.