Widespread unemployment and unrest plagued England in the 1820s, and Uriah Upjohn's father feared the situation would not allow his children to advance in life.

The brothers arrived in New York City in June 1828 and spent two years travelling the east coast on horseback looking for the perfect location for their family to settle.

On July 11, 1830, the Upjohn family departed from Liverpool on the William Byrnes, and after a seven-week journey, they arrived in New York City on August 29, 1830.

He advanced his studies by attending two sessions of "Physic and Surgery" at the New York hospital from 1833 to 1834.During his summers, Upjohn attended two full courses of anatomy and surgery under Professor Alden March, a co-founder of the American Medical Association.

[7] After graduating from medical school in 1834, Uriah Upjohn briefly practiced medicine in Brighton, New York.

[10] Because doctors were scarce, Upjohn was responsible for caring for patients in five counties: Kalamazoo, Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, and St.

[11] For more than twenty years, Upjohn travelled on horseback along existing Native American trails in all weather conditions.

He contributed to the organization of the Kalamazoo County Medical Society, and was elected its first president on October 25, 1848.