John McP Scott

Artist: Unknown (possibly Thomas Corner); oil on canvas

John McPherson Scott was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on April 12, 1850. Dr. Scott was educated at the Hagerstown Academy and at Lawrenceville in New Jersey and was graduated at Pennsylvania College Gettysburg in 1871. He studied medicine and was graduated MD at the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1873.

After receiving his medical degree he returned to Hagerstown and began the active practice of his profession associating himself with his father. Dr. Scott enjoyed a large and lucrative practice almost from the beginning of his professional career and was recognized as one of the leaders of his profession in Western Maryland.

He was a member of the American Academy of Medicine the American Medical Association, the Medical-Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland and the Washington County Medical Society He was president of the Medical Chirurgical Faculty in 1901 and 1902. He was a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners from its organization in 1892 and was its secretary since 1896.

He was president of Potomac Valley Stone and Lime Co., which had its quarries at Pinesburg, MD and was a director of Peoples National Bank of Hagerstown and of Rose Hill Cemetery. He was elected in 1876 and again 1880, serving two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates and was mayor of Hagerstown, elected to that office four times.

It was during his mayoral administrations that Hagerstown’s City Park was opened, the city purchased its water system and began methodically providing sewer service. After leaving the office of mayor, Scott continued his interest in improving the public utilities, thus public health, by serving as president of the Board of Water Commissioners.

At the time of Scott's sudden death in 1923, he was working toward erecting a statue honoring President Warren G. Harding.