Johns Hopkins and His Legacies that Changed Millions of Lives

Johns Hopkins was an American businessman and philanthropist. Among his legacies are the Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Hopkins was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 19, 1975. He grew in the family’s 500-acre property in Anne Arundel County. The Hopkins family members were known Quakers. In compliance with their Society decree, the Hopkins emancipated their slaves in 1807.

At 12 years old, Hopkins had to stop schooling to work in the farm. When he was 17 years old, Hopkins left the farm in favor of a wholesale grocery owned by Gerard Hopkins, his uncle. He managed the business while Gerard was away for the War of 1812. This was Hopkins’ first exposure to business.

Alongside his friend Benjamin Moore, Hopkins opened a new business but the partnership was dissolved later on. After this, Hopkins and his brothers founded the Hopkins & Brothers. The business sold wares, sometimes in exchange for corn whiskey. But a huge part of the Hopkins fortune was from investments the brothers made with existing companies. Among the most notable was with Baltimore and Ohio Railroad where Hopkins served as director. Hopkins also became the president of Merchants’ bank. He also served in other companies as director.

During difficult financial times, Hopkins used his own wealth to help Baltimore City. In two instances, he had to bail out Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from debt. Hopkins was in the 69th place in “The Wealthy 100: From Benjamin Franklin to Bill Gates – Ranking of the Richest Americans, Past and Present” in 1996.

During the American Civil War, Baltimore was hit by cholera and yellow fever epidemics, killing 853 people in the summer of 1832. Hopkins saw the need for medical facilities. In 1870, he earmarked $7 million to establish a hospital and a college to train nurses. He also founded orphanages to take care of colored children, and a university.

From the humble beginnings of his vision during the Civil War, Hopkins was associated with institutions that have been making contributions even until today. Among them are the Johns Hopkins Colored Children Orphan Asylum, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Press, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.