John Davidson Godman

Godman was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland to Samuel and Anna née Henderson.

Godman enlisted as a sailor and served under Commodore Joshua Barney in Chesapeake Bay in 1814–15.

In 1816 he moved to Baltimore and attended lectures at the University of Maryland and became a demonstrator for Dr John Beale Davidge.

In 1819 he hoped to receive a position vacated by William Gibson but he was considered too young for the post and he moved to teach in Philadelphia.

He joined Rutgers Medical College to teach anatomy in 1826 but resigned after a year due to ill health.