Here stands the Miguel O’Gorman Plaque. Its simple bronze face speaks volumes. It tells a story of a man who shaped early medicine in Buenos Aires.
This plaque commemorates Miguel O’Gorman also known as Michael O’Gorman or Gorman. He was born in Ennis Ireland in 1749. He died in Buenos Aires in January 1819. He played a significant role in the development of medicine in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This area is now modern-day Argentina.
O’Gorman’s journey was remarkable. He studied medicine in Paris and Reims. He then validated his degree before the Royal Protomedicate in Madrid. He served as a physician in the Hibernia Regiment. He also directed hospitals in Galicia. His travels took him to London. There he learned about the inoculation of vaccines. In 1775 he accompanied Alejandro O’Reilly to Argel. O’Gorman was the first physician on this expedition.
In 1777 he joined the expedition of Pedro de Ceballos. Ceballos was the first viceroy of the Río de la Plata. O’Gorman participated in the capture of Santa Catarina and Colonia del Sacramento. After peace with Portugal was established he settled in Buenos Aires. He became the personal physician to Ceballos and his successor Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo.
O’Gorman introduced the anti-smallpox vaccine to Buenos Aires. He administered the first doses. Under Viceroy Vértiz he was appointed protomédico. This was a significant position. He held it for almost three decades. His time in office wasn’t without conflict. He had a dispute with the surgeon Antonio Corbela y Fondebila.
O’Gorman played a key role in the founding of Buenos Aires’s medical school in 1801. He and Agustín Eusebio Fabre and Cosme Argerich were its sole professors. He made valuable contributions to healthcare after the British invasions. He supported the May Revolution of 1810. He donated his extensive library to the State Library. This library was founded by Mariano Moreno. Luis José de Chorroarín directed it. O’Gorman served as a physician in the Argentine Navy from 1812 to 1815. He was dismissed for opposing director supremo Alvear.
The Miguel O’Gorman Plaque stands as a silent tribute. It honors a man of significant medical achievement and unwavering republican spirit. He left an indelible mark on the history of medicine and Argentina itself. Remember his legacy as you continue your journey.