Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Arnold, Richard Dennis 1808 - 1876
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Author: William Harden
p. 583-584

   DR. RICHARD DENNIS ARNOLD, a physician and surgeon of considerable note,
distinguished citizen and war mayor of Savannah, was born in that city on August
19, 1808. He passed away in the city of his birth in 1876, and he is mourned in
the hearts of all who live to remember him today.

   Dr. Arnold was the son of Capt. Joseph and Eliza (Dennis) Arnold; the former
born in Rhode Island and the latter a native of Brunswick, New Jersey. No man
was more generally or more favorably known in Savannah, few were more highly
honored, and none have done more to promote the best interests of the city and
to benefit the people individually and collectively than did Doctor Arnold. He
died July 10, 1876, in the same house and in the same room in which he was born,
the old family mansion still standing on the northwest corner of State and
Abercorn streets. He was a graduate of Princeton College, also of the Medical
College of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1832 Doctor Arnold began the
practice of his profession in Savannah, and success soon established him among
the distinguished members of the medical profession. In 1839 he was elected to
represent Chatham county in the state legislature, and the usefulness of his
public service was such that many further political honors were bestowed upon
him. In 1842 he was elected to the Georgia senate, and in 1843 he was elected
mayor of Savannah, previously having served several terms as a member of the
board of aldermen, He was again elected to the office of mayor in 1851, 1859 and
1863, and continued to hold that office until the close of the Civil war.
General Sherman, upon his occupation of the city in December, 1864, convinced
that Doctor Arnold was much better fitted to act as mayor than anyone that could
be appointed from the army, retained Doctor Arnold in that position. He rendered
service of great value to his people in those times in looking after the women
and children and non-combatants.

   Doctor Arnold was a prominent member of the American Medical Association, was
elected first vice-president of that body in 1846, and was a member of the
committee which drafted the association's code of ethics. In 1847 he was elected
president of the Georgia Medical Society. His reputation as a physician was
international, and he was especially well known as an expert in the treatment of
fevers. In 1854, when the yellow fever epidemic swept over Savannah, Doctor
Arnold rendered notably beneficent services, being unremitting in his attentions
to the sick and suffering, and taking no heed of any danger to himself. His
experience was wide and varied, and, a constant student, he wrote several
masterful treatises on yellow and bilious fevers.

   Doctor Arnold was a delegate to several national Democratic conventions, and
was always enthusiastic in the cause of the party. He was deeply interested in
the subject of education, and as a member of the board of education of Savannah,
was able to do much for its advancement in his native city. He was one of the
original members of the Georgia Historical Society.

   Doctor Arnold was past master of Oglethorpe Lodge of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and a member of Solomons Lodge, No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons. He was buried in Bonaventure cemetery and in respect to his memory a
beautiful shaft was erected by the children of the public schools and the
citizens of Savannah.



Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913


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