Benjamin Tusten

Benjamin Tusten (11 December 1743 – July 22, 1779) was a physician and a militia lieutenant colonel during the American Revolutionary War.

Biography
Born in Southold, New York, Tusten moved north with his family to Goshen at a young age. He became a student of medicine at 19, working as an apprentice under three local surgeons. In the field of medicine, he is best known for treating and preventing smallpox.

American Revolutionary War
In 1779, lieutenant colonel Tusten led a group of militia against Joseph Brant at the Battle of Minisink. His forces crippled and surrounded, Tusten was tending to several of his wounded men when he was killed with a tomahawk on July 22, 1779.

Legacy
He left behind five children, one of whom, James, served as a major in the War of 1812. His wife was named Ann Brown and had two daughters with her Sarah Tusten and Abigail Tusten Reeve.

The town of Tusten, New York is named for him. There is also street in Goshen, NY named after him - Tusten Ave.