Tristram Thomas

Artist: Unknown, Oil on Canvas

Tristram Thomas was born at Roodly in Bolingbroke Neck, Talbot County, Maryland on Christmas Day, 1769. He was educated at Wilmington, Delaware, a student of Dr. Nicholas Way of Wilmington.

He then studied at the College of Medicine of Philadelphia, and received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1792. Dr. Thomas began practice at Trappe, in Talbot County, Maryland and then moved to Easton where he practiced for fifty years.

He was on the Board of Health of Talbot County beginning in 1793. He was an attending Physician of the County Almshouse. Additionally, he was President of the Sixth District Medical Society in 1815.

Dr. Thomas was one of the original founders of the Medical & Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland in 1799.

He was the father of Governor Philip F. Thomas of Maryland.

In 1845, a portrait was painted of Tristram Thomas as a testimonial of the public regard and paid for by general subscription. In the 1960's, UMMS gave the portrait to the Faculty, and in the 1980's, we gave it back to them. The portrait is now at the University of Maryland’s Davidge Hall, although he had nothing to do with the Medical School or its founding.

Dr. Thomas is described as “Very tall and spare with narrow sloping shoulders; gentle and sympathetic. The very model of a polished gentleman.” 

He carried a cane made of wood from the Mount of Olives. He died in Easton on August 5, 1847.