Rufus Henry Gilbert

Born| January 26, 1832

Guilford, New York

Died| July 10, 1885 (aged 53)

New York City

Nationality| United States
Parent(s)| William Dwight Gilbert

Rufus Henry Gilbert (1832–1885, aged 53) was an United States surgeon and inventor, who worked on rapid transit in New York City .

## Contents

* 1 Biography
* 1.1 Early years
* 1.2 Medical career
* 1.3 Rapid transit visionary
* 1.4 Death and legacy
* 2 Footnotes
* 3 External links

## Biography

### Early years

Rufus Henry Gilbert was born in Guilford, New York on January 26, 1832. Gilbert was the son of William Dwight Gilbert, a county judge in Steuben County, New York.[1]

### Medical career

Gilbert studied at the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons and graduated to become a physician and surgeon.[2] During his time in New York City , Gilbert became concerned with the cramped and overly centralized living conditions of the working class, seeing this as a major public health hazard, and began thinking about urban rapid transit as the key to provision of more sanitary living conditions.[2]

During the American Civil War, he joined the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry as a surgeon, performing the first surgical procedure during the war at the Battle of Big Bethel. He eventually became Medical Director and Superintendent of the United States Army Hospitals.[2]

### Rapid transit visionary

Towards the end of the war, Gilbert's own medical issues prevented him from a further career in this field.

Gilbert subsequently became Superintendent of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, where he worked on developing rapid transport in the New York City area.[2]

In 1870 Gilbert obtained a patent for an elevated railway using the principle of pneumatics.[2] Gilbert incorporated a company knowns as the Gilbert Elevated Railway Company but had difficulty obtaining adequate financing for the venture.[2] Ultimately Gilbert was forced to surrender control of the company to the New York Loan and Improvement Company in order to obtain sufficient capital.[2] The company constructed the Sixth Avenue road, known as Gilbert Elevated Railroad, which opened in 1878.[2] Gilbert was forced out of the company by his partners soon after the road opened, however, effectively ending his career.[2]

### Death and legacy

With his health failing, Gilbert died in New York City on July 10, 1885. He was just 53 years old at the time of his death.

## Footnotes

1. ↑ "Death of Rufus H. Gilbert: He Breathes His Last Unattended by Relatives or Friends," New York Times, July 11, 1885.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 William D. Middleton, Metropolitan Railways: Rapid Transit in America. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2003; pg. 17.

## External links

* Picture of Gilbert as an army surgeon

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