478 



GEOEGE DERBY. 



or have read the rfecord, that his argument saved the country from the 

 consequences of a most dangerous precedent. 



But the Libors of Judge Curtis were so quiet and his life so modest, 

 that the community in which he lived and moved is hardly aware of 

 the great loss it has sustained in his death. Those who knew him inti- 

 mately will ever feel that his death has created a void which cannot 

 be tilled. They admired his integrity, his high sense of honor, his un- 

 faltering devotion to duty, and they loved him for his tender, generous, 

 and sympathetic nature. 



GEORGE DERBY. 



G:?>ORGE Derby, M.D., at the time of his death, was one of the 

 highest, if not the acknowledged chief, in sanitary science in this 

 country. lie was therefore most ap|)ropriately a member of th^ 

 Academy, although he made few, if any, communications to it. He 

 was born at Salem, Mass., Feb. 13, 1819. His father was John 

 Derby, an eminent East India merchant. Dr. Derby was educated at 

 Salem, and graduated at Harvard College in 1838. After leaving 

 college, he studied medicine, and was known in this community as a 

 well-instructed physician and a most honorable man. 



The late war brought out all his sterling qualities. Tl^e fall of 

 Sumter sounded like a bugle note to him; and, after reviewing his 

 knowledge of surgery by taking lessons from the most eminent sur- 

 geons of the day, he received from Governor Andrew the commission 

 of surgeon in the 23d Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. He 

 assumed the duties of that position in November, 1861. He served 

 most faithfully in the armies of the Union for four years, and held 

 many important positions, — as Surgeon of his own regiment and of 

 United States Volunteers ; as Medical Inspector of the Department 

 of Virginia and North Carolina; Surgeon-in-chief .of Divisions; and 

 finally he attained the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of United 

 States Volunteers. During the entire war he was constantly, and at 

 the risk of life and health, at his post, and it is probable that the 

 disease of which he died originated while thus occupied. At the 

 termination of the struggle he was appointed to the command of 

 the Soldiers' Home at Augusta, Maine. This place gave him some 

 rest from the unintermitting toil of the preceding years. He quitted 

 that place Dec. 30, 1865. 



During the war Doctor Derby married Elizabeth, daughter of the 

 late William Parsons, Esq. They iiad four children. Two of the 



