Beginning his medical education early in his career, he finished his course, and by the time he was twenty-one years of age became one of the most distinguished physicians[1] of New Orleans.

Dr.Benjamin Rush, the noted physician of Philadelphia, who was educated at the Edinburgh Medical College, once deigned to converse professionally with Dr.
Durham.

"I learned more from him than he could expect from me," was the comment of the Philadelphian upon a conversation in which he had thought to appear as instructor of the younger physician.[2] [Footnote 1: Brissot de Warville, _New Travels_, vol.i., p.

223.] [Footnote 2: Baldwin, _Observations_, etc., p.

17.] Most prominent among these brainy persons of color were Phyllis Wheatley and Benjamin Banneker.