James R. Manley

James R. Manley (April 5, 1782 – November 21, 1851) was an American medical doctor and professor of obstetrics who was prominent in New York City.

Early life Manley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1782. He was the son of Robert and Catharine Manley. His father, a native of Maryland, who was a Captain in the Continental Army known for his "zeal and active exertions in the cause of the Revolution." His mother was a native of New York who was "a daughter of one of the old Dutch burghers."

At the age of 13, Manley entered Columbia College and graduated in 1799.

"During a long professional life Dr. M. received many evidences of distinction. In 1818 and 19 when the yellow fever prevailed to a fearful extent at the quarantine among the passengers from Europe, he assisted the health officer Dr. Dewitt who fell a victim to its ravages. When the deputy, Dr. Harrison was lying ill with the same disease, the board of health solicited Dr. M. to take charge of the sick at quarantine which he did; searlessly faced the fatal pestilence and continued in charge for two months and until the post of danger had become a place of safety. In 1828 Gov. Clinton was intending to nominate him to the Senate as Health Officer, but after the Governor's sudden decease the nomination was found, in his writing, on his table ready to be sent to the Senate the next day. Dr. Manley had warned the Governor a day or two before his death of his liability to an attack of apoplexy and advised him to discontinue for a time his severe application to the duties of his office, and all other mental exertions, but the warning came too late the mandate had gone forth the thread was breaking at the time the warning was pronounced." On July 11, 1828, he gave an eulogium address on De Witt Clinton, the recently deceased governor of New York at the request of a joint committee of the Medical Society and College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the hall of Columbia College. In 1849, he served as the vice-president of the New York Academy of Medicine.

In 1844, he was chosen as the 4th President of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York.

Personal life In 1804, Dr. Manley was married to Elizabeth "Betsy" Post, the daughter of Col. Anthony Post, "one of the old and highly respectable Dutch residents of New-York," who had a prominent country seat at Bloomingdale. After their marriage, they moved to Greenwich Village, and in 1841, he lived at 19 White Street and in 1844, he resided at 74 Second Avenue. a poet and novelist who married Daniel Embury (1795–1864), president of the Atlantic Bank in Brooklyn, in 1828.

Dr. Manley died, aged 70, on November 21, 1851. and James William Embury, and one daughter Anna K. Sheldon.