Biography

He was one of Auburn's most distinguished physicians. After graduating from Berkshire Medical Institute in 1829, he commenced practice with Dr. John Morgan in Auburn, NY in June 1831. He practiced medicine for 20 years before deciding to specialize in surgery. He traveled to Europe in 1848 to learn about new medicines and medical practices overseas. He was Mayor of Auburn in 1857, 1858, and 1859. He also served as a member and president of the Board of Education in Auburn.


	

		

			
Birth: 
			
Dec. 5, 1807
		
		

			
Death: 
			
Apr. 24, 1888
		
		

			


			AUBURN BULLETIN

			Wednesday April 25, 1888

			

			Lansingh Briggs.

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			One of Auburn's Most Distinguished Physicians Passes Away.

			

			Dr. Lansingh Briggs , an old and much respected citizen of this city, died at his home at 183 Genesee street at 8:25 last evening. Dr Briggs .has been slowly failing for several month and his death is not attributed to any special disease. He gradually grew weaker and weaker until death came to his relief. For several days past he has been unconscious and for nearly a week his death was expected. Mrs. Briggs has stood by her husband's side through his long illness and her name was on his lips with his last breath. 

			Dr. Lansingh Briggs was born in Washington County December 5, 1807. He was a son of Gilbert Briggs, who, in December 1808, removed to Scipio, in this county and. pursued,-in that village the occupation of a farmer. As Lansingh grew older, be attended the common schools of the town during the winter, assisting in the farm work during the Summers, while in Autumn he labored in his father's cooper shop. In the winter of 1823, when but 18 years of age, he was examined by the school inspectors of the town and was certified by them to . be fully competent to teach a common school. He was immediately engaged as a teacher in "Deacon Daniel's district," in Scipio. He continued to teaching during the winter and work on the farm to the summer, until the spring of 1825, when be became a student in the "Auburn Associated Academy," Rev. Noble D. Strong, principal. This school was held on the ground floor of the old Theological Seminary building and was a rival of the "Auburn Academy," which at that - time occupied a building on the corner of North and Academy streets. He still continued his vocation of teaching during the winter, studying medicine at the same time in the office of Dr. Phineas Hurd, late of Scipio. In the spring of 1829 he entered the office of Dr. Joseph T Pitney in this city. In the following Autumn he attended his first course of lectures in the Berkshire Medical Institution at Pittsfield, Mass. and graduated from that school the year following. In June 1831, he began practicing with Dr. John G. Morgan in an office at No. 1 North street. Among their students was Dr. Frank H. Hamilton who afterward became distinguished as a professor of surgery and the author of several works for the medical profession. In 1881 he was also made a member of the Cayuga County Medical Society, and his name has been on the membership roll of the society up to the present time 

			Dr. Briggs industrious in his profession and became well known as a medical expert and a consulting physician In 1832, when the Asiatic cholera appeared in America, he was sent to Rochester and other places, where the disease was prevailing, by the Board of Health of Auburn, in order that from personal observation, he might be able to assist in keeping the disease at a distance or at least relieve it of some of its terrors if it should appear in this city. 

			In 1834 Dr. Briggs forged a partner- ship with Ira H. Smith and they continued to do business together until Mr. Smith's death in 1839. In 1839 h' m e Miss Angelina Warden daughter of Captain Allen Warden, of Auburn. She died in 1841, leaving one child who survived her but five years. On December 30, 1846, he married as a second wife, Miss Matilda C. Lillie, who survives him. In 1848 he went to Europe where he studied in the hospitals of the continent for about two years. About this time anaesthetics were coming into use and their use in Auburn was inaugurated by Dr. Briggs. He was elected Mayor of the city for three successive terms, 1857-8-9 and discharged his duties faithfully and well. He was also a member and president of the Board of Education. For the past 35 years Dr. Briggs has made surgery a specialty and was usually successful in his operations. He had an enormous practice up to the past few years when failing health compelled him to give up the arduous duties of his profession and limit his patients to* a few of his old friends who would have no other physician.