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After a long illness, Dr. R. P. Daniel died at his home, in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 10, 1915. He was one of the oldest citizens of Jacksonville, having lived there for over seventy years, and had practiced medicine there for the greater part of fifty years. Born in South Carolina August 19, 1828, a son of James M. and Jaqueline Smith Daniel, he graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and then entered the United States navy in 1854 as assistant surgeon of the United States sloop of war San Jancinto. He was in the navy five years and cruised around the world. He was on the United States war vessel which took Commissioner Townsend Harris to Japan to consummate the treaty negotiated by Commodore Perry which opened that country to commerce with ours. Shortly before the war he returned to Florida, and at its outbreak he enlisted in the Confederate army as surgeon of the 8th Florida Regiment, serving throughout the four years of war and surrendering with Lee at Appomattox. He then returned to Jacksonville and soon acquired a large practice. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1888 Dr. Daniel remained at his post of duty and gave the best that was in him to alleviate the sufferings of its unfortunate victims. He was the first President of the State Board of Health of Florida, was President and also chief of staff of St. Luke's Hospital, President of the Florida Medical Association and Duval Medical Society for many years, and was Honorary President of each body at the time of his death. He was also Commander of the R. E. Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans, to which office he had been repeatedly elected. For a lifetime he was a devoted member of St. John's Episcopal Church of Jacksonville and its senior warden for the past twenty years. Dr. Daniels life in his community was one of unselfish and unremitting service to his fellow man, and his grateful friends are among those of the humblest as well as the highest walks of life. He was truly beloved by the many with whom he came in contact during his long and useful life.
SOURCE: Confederate Veteran Magazine, July, 1915.
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