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Dr. Benjamin Spock was renowned for his theories on intuitive parenting and his anti-war positions.[1][2][3][4]
Benjamin McLane Spock was born May 2, 1903, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Benjamin Ives Spock and Mildred Louise Stoughton.[5][6][4][2][1][7] Benjamin was the oldest child and helped in the care of his younger siblings.[8][9][1][4][7] The Spock household was a very strict one, and in later years, Benjamin referenced it in saying he still felt the need to shake off the rigidity of those early years.[1]
Spock's freshman year at Yale |
Benjamin was a large man, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall with broad shoulders.[4] He was considered charming and warm with a gentle face and eyes.[4]
Benjamin attended private prep schools, and went on to attend Yale University, studying English Literature.[1][4][7][10] He started attending medical school at Yale, but later transferred to Columbia.[1][2][7][4]
Benjamin was a member of the US rowing team in the Paris Olympics in 1924.[5][11] The team won an Olympic gold medal.[1][7][4] Benjamin would continue to row his entire life.[4]
Benjamin Spock and Jane Davenport Cheney were married in 1927.[7][4][12] Jane helped Benjamin with his research for his book.[4] Benjamin and Jane had two sons, Michael and John.[7][13] They divorced in 1976.[4]
Benjamin next married Mary Morgan, in 1976.[4] She had worked as an assistant for him.[4] They remained married the rest of his life.[4]
Dr. Spock practiced as a physician, taught pediatric medicine at Cornell University and child psychology at Case Western University, and liaised with the New York City Health department on matters of pediatric psychiatry.[4][1] He would also serve as a medical officer in the Navy during World War II.[1][4][14] Around 1943, he started writing his book.[4] He was the author and/or co-author of 13 books, but none were as popular as his Baby and Childcare book.[4] He also wrote articles for women's magazines.[4]
Benjamin was the first pediatrician to psychoanalyze children's needs within a family.[7] This led to his belief that parents "knew more than they thought" and he encouraged them to trust themselves and be more relaxed in how they raised their children.[7][15][4] His motto was always to "do what's right".[7] He thoroughly enjoyed his time with his young patients.[4]
Dr. Spock published his views on childcare and parenting in his book, Dr. Spock's Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care in 1946.[1][2] He revised the book a number of times, in order to keep current on medical findings, to update his own changing viewpoints, including equality in the roles of parents, single parents, and non-traditional parenting, while also incorporating other cultural changes.[1][7][4] Later editions were co-authored by Dr. Steven J Parker.[4]
The main message remained the same, though:
At the time of his death, the book had sold more than 50 million copies in 42 languages.[2][7][3] The book led to Dr. Spock being a household name, and children often being called "Spock babies", which could be a good or bad thing depending on the context.[7]
Benjamin was an activist, pushing for peace in concern for what wars do to children.[1][7][15][4] This concern started as early as his time in World War II.[1]
Benjamin was a co-chair for SANE, an organization dedicated to stopping nuclear testing in 1962.[1][4] He was worried about what the radiation was doing to children.[1][4] The next year, he also advocated for Medicare for older citizens.[1] He was not on good terms with the American Medical Association, in part due to his popularity in mainstream culture.[1]
He was part of anti-Vietnam War protests during the 1960's and early 1970's,[1][7][4][15] while his books were being criticized by Vietnam War supporters who believed his parenting advice had ruined children and was part of the problem with anti-war protesters.[1][7][15][4] Benjamin and his wife, Mary, were arrested on several occasions for civil disobedience associated with their beliefs.[4]
Benjamin was put on trial in 1968 for conspiracy for his anti-war efforts and his encouragement of young people in avoiding the draft.[1][4][16] He was convicted, but the verdict was set aside on a technicality.[1][4]
In 1972, he ran for President of the United States on the People's Party ticket, a liberal organization.[1][7][4] In 1976, he was a Vice Presidential candidate on the same party's ticket.[4]
Benjamin suffered from chronic bronchitis and would fall victim to a stroke in 1989.[1] That same year, he and Mary completed and published his autobiography, Spock on Spock.[4][1][7]
Dr. Benjamin McLane Spock died of pneumonia at his home in La Jolla, California on March 15, 1998.[6][4][15][1][2][7] His ashes are buried in Seaview Cemetery, Rockport, Maine.[17] His work lives on in the sales of his book and many generations of parents who chose a more relaxed, intuitive approach to raising their children.[15]
Ben and his first granddaughter, Susannah |
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