Seo Jae-pil - Timeline

Timeline

1864 (January 7): Born in Bosung, Korea as the second son of Seo Kwang-Hyo.
1871: Adopted to Seo Kwang-Ha, Seo Kwang-Hyo's second cousin.
1882: Passed the Civil Service Examination.
1883~1884: Attended the Toyama Army Academy in Japan.
1884 (December 4): Staged the Kapsin coup with Kim Ok-gyun. The attempt was aborted in three days and Jaisohn had to emigrate to Japan.
1885: Arrived in San Francisco with Park Young-hyo and Soh Kwang Bum and worked at a furniture store.
1886~1889: Attended the Harry Hillman Academy (Wilkes Barre, PA). John W. Hollenback supported Jaisohn’s living and tuition in entirety. Anglicized his name from 'Seo Jae-Pil' to 'Philip Jaisohn'.
1889: Worked at the Army Surgeon General’s Library in Washington D.C translating Chinese and Japanese medical books into English. Entered the Medical School at Columbian University (now George Washington University).
1890 (January 19): Obtained American citizenship.
1892: Earned a medical degree and opened a private medical office in 1894.
1894 (June 20): Married Muriel Armstrong, daughter of George Buchanan Armstrong. Jaisohn later had two daughters (Stephanie and Muriel).
1895: Left Washington D.C. at the request of the Korean government.
1896 (April 7): Started to publish The Independent.
1896 (June 2): Founded the Independence Club.
1897 (May 23): Built the Independence Hall.
1897 (August 8): Began a public forum called 'All People's Congress'.
1897: Erected the Independence Gate.
1898: Proposed the constitution of Congress. Russia and Japan pressed the Korean government to dispel Jaisohn.
1899~1903: Worked at the Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania.
1904~1913: Operated a publishing and stationary business in Philadelphia with his friend, Harold Deemer.
1914~1924: Operated the Philip Jaisohn & Co. in Philadelphia.
1919 (April 14~16): Convened the First Korean Congress in Philadelphia after receiving the news of nationwide resistance in Korea.
1919 (April 22): Established the Korea Information Bureau.
1919 (May 16): Founded the League of Friends of Korea in Philadelphia with Rev. Floyd Tomkins. The League thereafter established 24 chapters in U.S., and one each in London and Paris.
1921 (September 29): Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai appointed Jaisohn as the vice-representative to the Washington Naval Conference.
1922~1935: Contributed a number of articles to Dong-A Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, Shin Min, New Korea (Shin Han Min Bo), Peace & Liberty.
1924: Philip Jaisohn & Co. went bankrupt.
1925: With Yu Ilhan, Jaisohn founded the New-Ilhan & Co., but the business was not successful.
1925: Attended the Pan-Pacific Conference in Hawaii as a Korean delegate.
1926: Entered the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania.
1927~1936: Worked at the Jeans Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, Charleston General Hospital and Chester Hospital.
1929~1934: Published five research articles in pathology journals.
1936: Opened a private medical office in Chester, PA.
1937~1940: Contributed various columns such as "My Days in Korea" and "Random Thoughts" to the New Korea.
1941: His wife, Muriel Armstrong died.
1942~1945: Volunteered as a physical examination officer for the US Army during World War II.
1945: Awarded a medal from the US Congress in honor of contribution to the US Army.
1947 (July 1): Returned to Korea as the Chief Advisor to the US Military Government and as a member of the Korean Interim Legislative Assembly. Jaisohn made strenuous efforts toward democracy and the unification of Korea.
1948: Petitioned to run for presidency.
1948 (September 11): Returned to the U.S.
1951 (January 5): Died at the Montgomery Hospital, PA during the Korean War (1950~1953).
1975 (January 15): The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation was established in Philadelphia, PA.
1977: The National Foundation Medal was awarded posthumously to Jaisohn by the Korean government. A memorial monument was erected at Rose Tree Park, Media, PA.
1994: His remains were exhumed from West Laurel Cemetery to Korea and buried at the National Cemetery in Seoul.