John Fonerden

John Fonerden was born in Baltimore on January 22, 1804. He attended the University of Maryland and received his degree in 1823. He became an attending physician at the Baltimore General Dispensary from 1826 to 1828.

Dr. Fonerden was a leading light at the Medical & Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, becoming Orator in 1833, Secretary from 1828 to 1834, Vice-President from 1853 to 1854 and finally, President from 1854 to 1855.

At one point, when the library didn’t have a home, it was determined to erect shelves in Dr. Fonerden’s office. He agreed to give his library services and office space free of charge. Large donations of books were made by members of the Faculty with Dr Fonerden taking the lead. Dr. Fonerden was also the Faculty’s first paid librarian, with a salary of $100 per year. Large donations of books were made to the Faculty, lead by Dr. Fonerden himself.

Dr. Fonerden was appointed Superintendent to the Maryland Hospital for the Insane (now Spring Grove) in 1849. and held this office for twenty-three years, or until the time of his death. He was appointed to the position by Dr. Richard Sprigg Steuart, the President of the Hospital. Dr. Fonerden was one of the Charter Trustees of the Johns Hopkins University and Hospital. Unfortunately he did not live to see the beginning of this now famous institution.

He died in Boston, May 6, 1869. Johns Hopkins attended his funeral in Baltimore and Fonerden is buried at Greenmount Cemetery.