Medical Society of County of Kings, est. 1822

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History

Surprisingly, our Society could have been born even before 1822. When the New York State Legislature became alarmed by the increasing number of medical quacks and charlatans, it passed an "Act to Incorporate Medical Societies for the Purpose of Regulating Physic and Surgery" within the State. The stature specifically required that all practicing physicians be members of a medical society in the county wherein they resided, and it empowered Boards of Censors in such societies to examine and license practitioners of the healing arts. Very quickly after passage of the act, the Medical Society of the State of New York was established as were twenty-one other county societies. But the more conservative Dutch physicians of Brooklyn did not organize until sixteen years later.

A twenty-six year old physician, Dr. Adrian Vanderveer, a graduate of Columbia Physicians and Surgeons and a native of Flatbush, was the moving spirit. On February 25, 1822, he invited six physicians to his home to discuss the propriety of forming a county medical society. A committee was appointed to draft bylaws, and with commendable dispatch, the founding meeting took place at the Auld Lang Syne Tavern on Fulton Street near the present Pineapple Street. The tavern was a favorite of doctors for its turtle soupe and other liquid refreshments. Bylaws were adopted and Dr. Cornelius Low was elected the first President, serving three terms.

Dr. Vanderveer was chosen first Secretary and later was the seventh President of the Society. He was a pioneer in another sense as the first physician in Brooklyn to leave general practice to specialize, a move that earned him much criticism from his colleagues. Needless to say, he persevered and had good accomplishment. The first physician licensed by the Kings County Medical Society was Dr. John Carpenter who later founded the first Sunday School in Fort Hamilton and was regarded as "the father of the Brooklyn Sunday School System".

The Medical Society of the County of Kings continues its original mandate; this is to examine the credentials and license of its members. And, to encourage physicians to belong to an organization that advocates for access to the highest standards of health care, while continuing to plead for its member physicians. (Excerpted from The Medical Society of the County of Kings at 175 Years, Anniversary Journal, Duncan W. Clark, M.D., Past President)

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