James Tilton

James Tilton (June 1, 1745– May 14, 1822) was an American physician and soldier from Dover, Delaware. He was a delegate for Delaware in the Continental Congress of 1783 and 1784, and served as Surgeon General of the United States Army during the War of 1812.

James was born in 1745 to Thomas Tilton, a farmer in Kent County, Delaware. After attending an academy in West Nottingham, Pennsylvania, he attended the College of Philadelphia (which was later the University of Pennsylvania). He graduated in 1768 and earned a degree as a Doctor of Medicine in 1771. He started a medical practice at Dover, and also served as an infantry Lieutenant in Dover's Company of the Kent County militia.

When the Revolutionary War began, his militia became part of the 1st Delaware Regiment of the Continental Army. Colonel John Haslet quickly reassigned him to duty as the regimental surgeon. He served with distinction and saw action at the battles of Brooklyn, White Plains, Trenton, and Princeton.

Haslet's unit was virtually destroyed in the Battle of Princeton in January 1777. Colonel Haslet was killed and the command structure was rebuilt. Tilton remained in service with the Continental Army as the head of military hospitals, first at Princeton and later at Trenton, New Jersey and other sites. When active fighting ended in 1781 he returned to his practice at Dover.

As the war was ending, the surviving Delaware officers organized a chapter in the Society of the Cincinnati. Tilton was elected their first president at a meeting in Wilmington on July 4, 1783. He served in that office until 1793. During this time he also moved to a home and farm just outside of Wilmington.

Delaware named Tilton as a delegate to the Continental Congress three times from 1783 until 1785, although he didn't attend sessions in the last year. He also served several terms in the state's House of Representatives.

The War of 1812 caused the U.S. Army to reorganize support and administrative functions in 1813. This included the creation of a position for a Surgeon General of the Army. Dr. Tilton was appointed and served as the first Surgeon General from June 1813 until June 15, 1815.

Tilton died in 1822 at his home just outside Wilmington, and is buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery there. He was a longtime member of the American Philosophical Society and headed the Delaware Medical Society.

Places with more information

 * Delaware Historical Society website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
 * University of Delaware Library website, 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965