A native of South Carolina, he served with Company F of the Palmetto Battery. Dr. George Hilliard Bright was practicing medicine in Peak, Newberry County, SC, before entering the Confederate Army as a surgeon under General Joseph E. Johnston. He was captured at Hillsboro, NC, by Gen. Sherman's forces. There he met his future wife, Mary Davies, a refugee from Richmond. He reportedly told his captors that he had just met his future wife. They were married shortly after the war. Mary's Aunt Sallie offered Dr. Bright a job in Richmond at her home for boys. He went to Europe in 1867 to further his medical education, returning to Richmond and his family in December, 1869. His son, Dr. John Fulmer Bright, taught medicine at Richmond College, and was mayor of Richmond for 20 years.

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This was sent in. Damn my inexcusable prose. Bullet points prevail.

Bright, George Hilliard – bio

BRIGHT, George Hilliard (a.k.a., George H. George)
02/21/1836 - Born in South Carolina [Father: George William Bright (1814-1837);
Mother: Mary Magdalena Fulmer Comalander (1813-1885)
08/16/1850 - Lived in Lexington, Lexington Co., SC (possibly lived his mother
and younger brother, Joseph; indexed as "George H. George")
1856-1858 - Attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
1858 - M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from: Newberry
Newberry Co., SC; preceptor: Dr. David E. Ewart; thesis: "Bright's Disease")
06/20/1860 - Practiced medicine, Dutch Fork, Lexington Co., SC (lived with the Levi Stuck
family; indexed in the 1860 U. S. Census as G. H. Bright)
- Practiced medicine, Peak, Newberry Co., SC
05/15/1862 - Enlisted as Pvt., Co. F, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Camp Lawton
[Note: This unit was also known as the 3rd SC Artillery Battalion
05/15/1862 - Placed on detail as Hospital Steward with the Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC]
06/10/1862 - In a letter written from Hope Station, Lexington District, SC, to Drs. Geddings,
Robertson, and R. A. Kinloch, "Sirs, It is with pleasure that I recommend to your
favorable notice Dr. George H. Bright as deserving a suitable position in the army
as physician or surgeon. Dr. Bright was raised in my immediate neighborhood,
studied medicine under good instructors, and after his graduation in the first of
medical colleges, he returned to our section again, and has practiced in his
profession for a series of years with great success and satisfaction in an extensive
field of labor. His industry and perseverance are not easily surpassed. Your
most respectfully, John C. Hope."
06/30/1862 - Private G. H. Bright of Company F, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery, is appointed
Hospital Steward and will report for duty to the Major Commanding said
Battalion" (S.O. 150/8)
08/31/1862 - Hospital Steward, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC]
09/28/1862 - In a letter written from the Medical Directors Office, Charleston, SC, to Brig. Gen.
Thomas Jordan, Chief of Staff, "Sir, I respectfully suggest that Asst. Surgeon
G. H. Bright now temporarily on duty with the Palmet Batt on James Island be
assigned to duty as Asst. Surg of that Batt. Surg O. A. White was in charge of
this Battn. Respectfully, T. S. Ogier, Med Director" [An addendum at the bottom
of this letter reads, "Surg White wishes this acted upon immediately so that he may
comply with S.O. 176. He wishes to turn over stores &c. before leaving."]
09/29/1862 - Assigned as Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC]
(S.O. 177/1 Dept. of S.C., Ga., & Fl. Gen. Beauregard)
10/31/1862 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], McLeods, James Island, SC
12/04/1862 - Appointed, Asst. Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States to rank
from 09/09/1862
02/28/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Proast's Farm, SC
04/04/1863 - Confirmed as Asst. Surgeon from SC by the Confederate States Senate
05/01/1863 - As an Asst. Surgeon, Dept. of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, stationed
on James Island, SC
06/30/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Fort Johnson
08/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], West Lines
10/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Heywards, James Island, SC
12/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Heywards, James Island, SC
01/01/1864 - Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Heywards House, James
Island, SC
02/29/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Heywards, James Island,
SC, reporting to Maj. Campbell, Legare's Point, James Island
04/30/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Heywards, James IslandSC, reporting to Maj. Campbell, Legare's Point, James Island
06/30/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery [SC], Heywards, James Island,
SC, reporting to Maj. Campbell in the 7th Military District
09/09/1864 - Absent on 20 days leave from District Head Quarters
05/01/1865 - As Asst. Surgeon, Kemper's Battalion Reserve Artillery [VA], paroled by the U. S.
Arm, Greensboro, NC
02/21/1867 - Married, Mary Samuel Davies (1843-1917), Richmond, VA
1867-1869 - Travelled to Europe to further his medical studies
09/21/1869 - "Medical Card. – Dr. George H. Bright, after having practiced medicine in South
Carolina for nine years, has just returned from Europe, and respectfully offers his
professional services as a practitioner of medicine, surgery, and obstetrics, to the
citizens of Richmond and vicinity. Office on Sixth street between Broad and Grace
streets. [Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, VA, Sept., 21, 1869, p.2, c. 3.]
1870 - Elected, Asst. Secretary. Richmond Academy of Medicine
07/07/1870 - Practiced medicine, Monroe Ward, Richmond, VA (lived with wife, Mary, in the home
of Sally Launders [or Saunders]; indexed in the 1870 U. S. Census as George Bright)
01/04/1872 – Elected to the Committee on Health, Richmond Academy of Medicine
10/09/1873 - Elected as an Alternate Delegate from Jackson Ward, Richmond, VA, to the
Richmond City Conservative Convention
1874 - Practiced medicine, Richmond, VA
1874 - Member, Medical Society of Virginia
06/03/1874 - Elected, 2nd Veil, Royal Arch Chapter, No. 33, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
Richmond, VA
05/29/1876 - Moved his medical office from 209 Sixth street to his residence, No. 900, corner of
Baker and St. James St.
08/24/1878 - Appointed by the Mayor of Richmond, VA, to be a canvasser for funds to provide
relief for yellow fever suffers in Richmond
07/24/1898 - Published a professional advertisement he "has associated his son, Dr. J. Fulmer Bright,
with him. We will do a general practice anything and everything for anybody, day or night.
Office and residence, 406 west Grace street. Office hours, 8:15 to 10 A. M.; 4 to 5 P.M.
[Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, VA, July 24, 1898, p. 4. c. 5.]
12/29/1879 - Elected Trustee, Lee Lodge, No. 447, Knights of Honor
06/11/1880 - Practiced medicine, Richmond, VA (lived with wife, Mary S, two sons, and one
daughter; indexed in the 1880 U. S. Census as G. H. Bright)
1886 - Practiced medicine, Richmond, VA
1890 - Practiced medicine, 201 W. Grace, Richmond, VA
1896 - Practiced medicine, 900 St. James, Richmond, VA
04/02/1900 - A brick and stone wall fell on Mr. Henry A. Friege at 1523 E. Franklin street, Richmond, VA.
"Dr. George H. Bright chanced to be passing at the time of the accident, and he hastened to
render such assistance as was possible. Dr. Moses D. Hoge, chance to come up about the
same time. Both doctors saw at once there was no hope. An ambulance call was turned in,
and there was prompt response, with Dr. Parker in charge. The injured man was removed to
the Retreat for the Sick. He died within less than an hour after reaching the hospital. He was
never conscious after the accident. Terrible wounds about the head would have produced
death. Internal injuries were not less serious. His right leg was broken just above the ankle."
[Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, VA, June 3, 1900, p. 3, c. 1.]
06/09/1900 - Practiced medicine, 406 W. Grace St., Clay Ward, Richmond, VA (lived with wife, Mary S., two
sons, and two daughters; indexed in the 1900 U. S. Census as Dr. George
Bright)
- Member, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Metropolitan Lodge, Richmond, VA
- Member, Knights of Pythias, Marshall Lodge, Richmond, VA
11/20/1900 - Died at home, 406 West Grace St. Richmond, VA, "He had been ill for two months past, but
his condition was not thought critical until the last few days" [The Times, Richmond, VA, Nov. 20,
1900, p. 8, c. 3.] (buried: Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA; FindAGrave #18014327
George Seitz and Michael Angelo provided input to this biography.

This biographical sketch is from:
Hambrecht, F. T. & Koste, J. L., Biographical
register of physicians who served the
Confederacy in a medical capacity.
05/26/2022. Unpublished database.