Portrait of William Cullen Bryant, currently on display.
William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) was among the first supporters of homeopathy for healing purposes. He was the president of the New York Homeopathic Society and founder of the Homeopathic Medical College of the State of New York.
Portraits of William Cullen Bryant can be found on display in the reception area of Sunshine Cottage, in the Wilner Family Atrium of the Medical Education Center, and with the “History of Homeopathy” exhibit in the hallway of the Philip Capozzi, M.D. Library.
Birth: November 3, 1794
Death: June 12, 1868, New York, New York
At New York Medical College:
1. NYMC Annual Announcements
2. The Encyclopedia of New York State, p. 968
William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) was an instrumental figure in the history of healing practices in New York state despite never having been a doctor. As a supporter of the practice of homeopathy, he worked with multiple notable organizations.
Initially, Bryant arrived in New York City in 1826 after leaving Massachusetts. He worked as an editor of the New York Evening Post. He became the editor in chief of the Evening Post in 1829 2.
Bryant was a strong proponent for the use of homeopathy as a healing method. He was among the first to accept the practice in New York City. In multiple addresses, he expressed support for the use of substances such as aconite, arsenic, belladonna, mercurials, and sulfur as healing remedies. In 1834, he joined the New York Homeopathic Society as a member before assuming presidency of the organization in 1841. He was the organization’s first president1.
In 1860,William Cullen Bryant founded the Homeopathic Medical College of the State of New York. He went on to serve on the board of trustees as the president, beginning in 1862. He maintained this role until 1872, by which point the college had been renamed to the New York Homeopathic Medical College.
Bryant was a fervent supporter of the arts and public works. He participated in the establishment of Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as was a public supporter of the New York Public Library. Additionally, he campaigned for a full-time, paid fire department in New York City and openly spoke out against slavery3.
1. The Encyclopedia of New York State, p. 968
2. Godwin, Parke. A biography of William Cullen Bryant: with extracts from his private correspondence. D. Appleton and Company, 1883
3. Bradley, William Aspenwall. William Cullen Bryant. The Macmillan company, 1905, page 177.
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