James Markham Ambler | |
|---|---|
 Ambler, in the records of National Library of Medicine | |
| Born | December 30, 1848 Markham, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | after October 30, 1881 (aged 32)[1] |
| Occupation | Naval surgeon |
James Markham Marshall Ambler (December 30, 1848 – October 30, 1881) was an American naval surgeon who served on the USS Jeannette and perished during the Jeannette expedition, in 1881, while attempting to reach the North Pole.
Ambler was born in December 1848 in Markham, Virginia. At the age of sixteen, he served in the 12th Virginia Cavalry Regiment of the Civil War. After studying medicine at Washington College and University of Maryland School of Medicine, Ambler joined the United States Navy as an assistant surgeon. After serving in few ships, he joined George W. De Long in the Jeannette expedition as a medical officer in July 1879. He performed monthly checkups of the crew including giving psychological treatments to the sick and depressed men. Jeannette sank in June 1881; a few months later, when asked either to stay or depart with two crewmen, he decided to remain aboard and provide medical attention to those alive. On October 20, he made the final entry in his journal, anticipating his death. He is presumed to have died after October 30; his body was buried later in 1884.