Daniel Arnoldi

Daniel Arnoldi (March 7, 1774 – July 19, 1849) was a Canadian medical doctor. He was born in Montreal and received his education in England and Montreal, obtaining his medical licence in 1795. He practised in many towns in what is now Quebec and Ontario before establishing a practice in Montreal. He became a medical examiner in 1812, but was excluded in 1823 when the governor decided that only doctors from Montreal General Hospital could be examiners. In 1831, when the power to appoint examiners was transferred to a licensing board chosen by doctors, Arnoldi was appointed to the board. He became the board's chair in 1834 but resigned a few months later when he disagreed with the politics of the board.

In 1836 Arnoldi was fined 10 shillings for assaulting a black man. During the Lower Canada Rebellion he was accused of desecrating a corpse, but this was disputed by a parish priest. In 1847 he was appointed the first president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Lower Canada. He was infected with cholera in 1849 and died later that year.

Early life

Arnoldi was born in Montreal on March 7, 1774. His father was Peter Arnoldi, a soldier from Germany. His mother was Philipina Maria Horn (nicknamed Phébé).

Arnoldi went to secondary school in England then returned to Montreal to learn about medicine and received his medical licence in 1795. Arnoldi, who had pleaded not guilty, received a fine of 10 shillings ( Canadian pound).

Lower Canada Rebellion and return to the board

In 1837 he was reappointed as the Montreal prison physician. A parish priest named Jacques Paquin examined the body and refuted the accusation. The following year he was given an honorary degree from McGill College. and was their first vice-president. He was appointed as its president in 1840.

During a cholera outbreak in Montreal, Arnoldi was infected with the disease and died there on July 19, 1849.