Amos Alexander Evans was born on November 26, 1785, in his parent’s home on the banks of the Big Elk River in Maryland. In March 1804, at the age of 19, Amos commenced the study medicine and continued his study for three years, also attended lectures of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence as well as attending lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. Amos wrote a large volume of notes, many of which have been preserved by historians. He was issued a license to practice medicine in Maryland and in 1807 was appointed Surgeon’s Mate to the 49th Regiment of Maryland Militia.
On September 1, 1808 he was appointed by President Jefferson as an Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Navy. During 1811 he was commissioned as a Surgeon and in 1812 assigned to the frigate CONSTITUTION. He was aboard CONSTITUTION in June 1812 during its famous chase by the British fleet and wrote a graphic account which is still available: "thus terminates a disagreeable chase of nearly three days attended with inexpressible anxiety, and alternate elevation and depression of spirits, as the winds were propitious or otherwise; we had many times given over all expectation of making our escape, and had it not been for uncommon exertion we must inevitably have fallen a prey to the superiority of our enemy."
Surgeon Evans was also aboard CONSTITUTION on August 19, 1812, when she defeated HMS GUERRIERE in battle. Historical records report that several days before the engagement there was a fire aboard CONSTITUTION during which Evans’ right hand was badly injured. Notwithstanding this, he was assiduous in attention to the wounded and kept his daily journal as usual, writing with his left hand. On December 29, 1812, CONSTITUTION engaged MHS JAVA in battle off the coast of Brazil during which Surgeon Evans again administered to the severely wounded. For his services, Surgeon Evans was by vote of the Congress presented with two valuable silver medals, one for the GUERRIERE and the other for the JAVA engagements. Only 26 medals have ever been given by vote of Congress and Evans has received two of them. A letter from the Secretary of the Navy dated February 10, 1820 reads in part: “In compliance with a resolution of the Congress of the United States, the President directs me to present to you a silver medal in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of your gallantry, good conduct, and services in the conflict with the British Frigate Guerriere.
After the close of the war Evans was stationed at Charlestown Navy Yard, and having ample leisure time he availed himself of the opportunity to attend medical lectures at Harvard University where he graduated with much distinction on August 30, 1814. On July 12, 1815, Surgeon Evans sailed aboard the frigate INDEPENDENCE as Fleet Surgeon in the war against the Barbary States. On his return from the Mediterranean he was again stationed at Charlestown Navy Yard and made the acquaintance of Mary Oliver, of Boston, whom he married on March 28, 1816. Sometime later, at his request, he was relieved from duty and proceeded to Elkton, Maryland, where he entered the private practice of medicine.
Though asked to accept the position of Governor of Maryland and frequently pressed to accept other honorable positions, Evans firmly declined all political activity, choosing rather to minister to the needs of his patients who loved and revered him both as a physician and friend. About the year 1823 he was ordered to be in charge of the Philadelphia Navy Yard but he declined the appointment and resigned from the Navy in April 1824 against the earnest remonstrance of the Secretary of the Navy. During his term of service his pay as a surgeon was trivial, being only about $900 a year when he was Fleet Surgeon.
Amos Alexander Evans continued his private practice as a physician until his death on January 15, 1848. Beloved and regretted by the whole community, which showed their sorrow for his loss and their respect for his memory, by voluntarily closing every place of business in the town upon the occasion of his funeral. He is buried in the Elkton Presbyterian Cemetery in Cecil County, Maryland.
Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)
