George McClellan (portrait), ca. 1840-1847. (Art/Photo Collection, AM-017)

George McClellan, Founder

At the beginning of the 19th century, only four Colleges in the United States possessed medical schools - Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and Dartmouth. For several years, Penn alumni and supporters successfully blocked all efforts to form an additional school. Led by Dr. George McClellan, a group of men hit upon a strategy to bypass this situation.