Benjamin Rush was born in the countryside surrounding Philadelphia. He was baptized by an Episcopal minister and during childhood attended the Presbyterian services of Gilbert Tennent.  During adulthood he occasionally attended Presbyterian services.

He earned an AB degree at the College of New Jersey in 1760 and went on to study medicine for five years with Drs. John Redman, William Shippen and John Morgan in the College of Philadelphia. In 1766 Rush sailed for Edinburgh, where he completed his medical studies and earned an MD degree. In 1769 he returned to America as professor of chemistry at the College of Philadelphia.

Dr. Rush took a prominent role in the debate over the future of the American colonies, writing a number of articles and pamphlets. In 1780 he began to deliver lectures at the newly established University of Pennsylvania, and in 1783 joined the staff of the Pennsylvania Hospital. He was a notable figure in the establishment of a school system in the United States, and was instrumental in persuading the Presbyterians to establish Dickinson College.

Dr. Rush published works on current politics, on medicine and its history, and on education, making important and lasting contributions to all three fields. One of his most notable accomplishments was his success at negotiating the healing of the breach between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. He died in 1813.