Person:Philip Trapnall (1)

Biography of Philip Trapnall, M.D.

TRAPNALL, PHILIP, M.D., was born January 4, 1773 in Baltimore County, Maryland, where his father, Vincent Trapnall was a farmer. The Trapnalls came from England, where many of them have long been ministers of the Established Church. His grandmother was a Vincent, and many of her family were also ministers of the Established Church : William Vincent, Bishop of London; Philip Vincent, Bishop of Durham; and Admiral Vincent, a naval officer, were his relations. Dr. Trapnall received a thorough literary education, and graduated in medicine in the University of Pennsylania, in the Spring of 1796. He practiced medicine at Hagerstown for two years, with great success; and, in 1800, removed to Kentucky and located in Harrodsburg, where he established a large practice, and became one of the most widely known and valuable members of his profession in the State. He had a wide range of practice, extending to neighboring towns, and even to Louisville; and, although contemporary with Ephraim McDowell, Louis Marshall, Pindall, and Ridgeley, he took a front rank in his profession. He performed a great number of surgical operations, but left no record of any important cases, and was distinguished for his want of a hobby, devoting himself with great delight to general practice. He accumulated a large library, which he generously divided among his young friends after retiring from professional life, about 1818, when he took up his residence on his farm. He was a member of the Legislature from Mercer County, from 1806 to 1810, and was a prominent and active member of that body; in 1812, was defeated for Congress by Samuel McKee, of Lancaster; in politics, was a warm partisan, even after retiring from active life, and was an uncompromising Whig. He was a member of the Episcopal Church ; was a warm sectarian ; was an able champion of Episcopacy, and was exceedingly well posted in the history and doctrines of his Church. He wrote many articles in defense of his Church, which were replied to by Dr. Clelland. He devoted himself, the remainder of his life, to agricultural pursuits, near Harrodsburg. He was a man of striking person and manners. He was over sic feet in height, and remarkably straight, and was noted for his dignified carriage. He possessed great firmness, honesty, and purity of life ; was ardently attached to his friends ; was an implacable enemy ; and, although marked by many peculiarities, he was surrounded by friends ; and was one of the most noted and able men of his day. He died, January 31, 1853, as he had lived, with an unshaken confidence in the great faith of his life. Dr. Trapnall was married, in 1806, to Miss Nancy Casey, daughter of Peter Casey, of Mercer County, Kentucky, a lady of fine intellect and culture, who was a helpmeet to him, and with whom he lived forty-five years, and raised a large and respectable family. ²

1.   Philip Trapnall, in Mercer County Wills Index, 1787-1954.

   Mercer County Wills Index, 1787-1954
   Surname First Name Year Book Page Type
   Trapnall Philip 1854 15 48 Exor Settlement
   Trapnall Philip 1855 15 179 Exor Settlement
   Trapnall Phillip 1806 4 104 Receipt FamilySearch image
   Trapnall Phillip 1853 14 139 Will

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Philip Trapnall, M.D., in Unknown Biographical Encyclopedia
   p 368.

   dds.crl.edu/loadStream.asp?iid=16843&f=4