Samuel Dickson was born on March 29, 1807, in the portion of Bethlehem, New York, later incorporated as the town of New Scotland.
Dickson studied medicine, received a diploma from the Censors of the Medical Society of the State of New York in May 1829, and practiced in New Scotland.
Near the end of his first session in Congress, Dickson stood up from the chair where he was sitting to consult a book.
He did not notice that the chair overturned, and when he attempted to resume his seat, Dickson fell heavily onto the floor.
The concussion to his spine resulted in gradual paralysis, and within a few months he lost the use of his lower limbs.