David Hosack, an American physician, born in New York, Aug. 31, 1769, died Dec. 23, 1835. He studied in Columbia college from 1786 to 1788, thence went to Princeton college, where he graduated in 1789, and received his degree as doctor of medicine in Philadelphia in 1791. He subsequently continued his medical studies in London and Edinburgh ; and on his return home in 1794 brought with him a cabinet of minerals obtained from Werner, and a collection of duplicate specimens of plants from the herbarium of Linnaeus. This collection of dried plants gathered by Linnaeus now constitutes a part of the museum of the lyceum of natural history of New York. In 1795 he was appointed professor of botany in Columbia college, and in 1797 of materia med-ica. In 1807 he became professor of materia medica and of midwifery in the newly created college of physicians and surgeons, anil in 1811 of the theory and practice of physic and clinical medicine, to which were afterward added obstetrics and the diseases of women and children.

He retained his post after the union of the two rival medical faculties of Columbia college and the college of physicians and surgeons in September, 1813. Resigning with the rest of the faculty in 1826, he aided in organizing the Rutgers medical school, which ceased in 1830. Dr. Hosack held several public medical offices, and was prominent in the promotion and management of municipal institutions. He founded in 1810, with Dr. Francis, the "American Medical and Philosophical Register," and was a fellow of the royal societies of London and Edinburgh. Among his works are: "A Biographical Memoir of Hugh Williamson, M.D., LL.D." (8vo, 1820); "Essays on Various Subjects of Medical Science" (3 vols., 1824-'30); " System of Practical Nosology" (1829); "Memoirs of De Witt Clinton" (4to, 1829); "Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Physic," edited by the Rev. H. W. Ducachet, M.D. (1838).