Prince of Quacks

This is a biography of the controversial and flamboyant nineteenth century doctor Francis Tumblety. The doctor’s exploits include arrests for complicity in the Lincoln assassination, selling abortion drugs, killing patients, indecent assault, and scrutiny as a possible suspect in the “Jack the Ripper” murders. Tumblety’s sheen of respectability appeared crafted to cover his homosexuality and his provocative fields of practice.

Timothy B. Riordan is an historical archaeologist and historian who, for 30 years, was the Chief Archaeologist at St. Mary’s City, an outdoor museum of archaeology and history in Maryland. He has written numerous professional articles and monographs. His other books include a history of Maryland in the English Civil War, 1642-1650 and a biography of Francis Tumblety, 19th-century quack doctor and one time Jack the Ripper suspect.

Timothy B. Riordan

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 250
Bibliographic Info: 11 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4433-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5511-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Introduction      1

1. Early Life (1830–1856)      7

2. Practicing in Toronto (1856–1857)      21

3. Montreal Troubles (1857–1858)      33

4. Back in Toronto (1858–1859)      47

5. Manslaughter in St. John (1859–1860)      57

6. Travels in the East (1860–1861)      71

7. Civil War Washington (1861–1863)      79

8. A Year in Brooklyn (1863–1864)      95

9. Arrest in St. Louis (1865)      104

10. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Back to Brooklyn (1866–1869)      118

11. Europe and the West (1869–1873)      131

12. English Interlude (1873–1880)      143

13. New York City Years (1880–1888)      154

14. Whitechapel Murders (1888)      163

15. The Aftermath in New York (1888–1890)      181

16. Retirement (1891–1903)      192

17. Final Act (1903–1910)      202

Chapter Notes      211

Bibliography      225

Index      231

“If you are interested in Dr. Tumblety then this is definitely a must have”—Ripperologist.