John Duncan Quackenbos - Doctor And Author Of Educational Books

John Duncan Quackenbos, son of George Payn Quackenbos (Teacher/Author) was born April 22, 1848. He married Laura Amelia Pinckney of New York City on June 28, 1871. They gave birth to Alice Pinckney Quackenbos in 1872, Caroline Duncan Quackenbos in 1877, and George Payn Quackenbos in 1879. 

John Duncan Quackenbos was graduated A. B. from Columbia College, N. Y., in 1868, and received the degree of A. M. from the same in 1871. He commenced the study of medicine in 1867, in New York City; attended three courses of medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York, together with hospital practice and summer terms, and was graduated M. D. in 1871. He commenced the practice of his profession the same year in New York City. He is a member of the New York Academy of Medicine, New York Academy of Science and of the American Fisheries Society. He was adjunct professor of the English language and literature at Columbia College 1884; professor of rhetoric at the same college since 1891, and professor of rhetoric at Barnard College for Women 1891-93. In 1894 he took a course in study at the Post-Graduate Medical College of New York City. 


Professor Quackenbos's medical work has been encroached upon by other scientific and literary labors. The literary engagements of his father, Dr. G. P. Quackenbos, the well known author, renders it necessary for him to devote a large portion of his time to the editing of educational books; and the death of his father, in 1881, cast upon him a weight of responsibility and labor under which he completely broke down and was compelled to seek relief in foreign travel. 

Dr. Quackenbos is himself the author and editor of fourteen standard works. Those especially associated with his name are: 

A " History of the World," 1876;

A " History of Ancient Literature," 1878;

" Appleton's Geographies," 1880-81;

A " History of the English Language," 1884;

" Physical Geography," 1887;

" Text-book on Physics, on a New Basis," 1891;

Dr. Quackenbos is also well known as a lecturer on scientific and literary subjects, and is to be credited with having brought to public notice, through literary channels, the presence of a fourth charr, in New England waters, viz.: the so-called Sunapee Lake trout, or American Saibling. His literary contracts having been largely concluded, and his twenty-four years of college instruction having come to an end, he will devote himself to private medical practice. He has recently established a summer sanitarium at Sunapee Lake, New London, New Hampshire, to which he will give his personal attention. 

 Source: Physicians and Surgeons of America.