Joel Hopkins

Joel Hopkins was born at Deer Creek in Harford County, Maryland on November 9, 1784. He was the son of Levin Hill Hopkins, a civil engineer. At age 16, he moved to Baltimore and engaged in the mercantile business. In the yellow fever epidemic of 1800, he lost an eye. While in Baltimore, he became a pupil of Dr. Nathaniel Potter, and eventually received his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1815. 

He settled in Elkridge Landing in Howard County in 1818. Elkridge Landing was, at that time, a rival to Baltimore. Located on the Patapsco River, it was developed as a place where tobacco farmers near the river could bring their tobacco crops to be loaded on English trading ships. Elkridge Landing was built as a seaport dock. The river was at least 30 feet wide and 12 feet deep.

In 1854-55 and again in 1857-58, Hopkins became a vice president of the Medical & Chirurgical Faculty, and from 1841-48, and again in 1858-59, he was President of the Faculty.