Phineas Gage
1823 – 1860

Phineas Gage

19th century American railway worker who survived a large brain trauma

railroad construction foreman
Born
1823-07-09, Grafton County
Died
1860-05-21
Birthplace state
New Hampshire

Biography

Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman born in Grafton County, New Hampshire in 1823. In an accident, an iron rod passed through his head and destroyed much of his brain's left frontal lobe. He survived the injury and lived for twelve more years, though the accident reportedly produced changes in his personality and behavior that caused those who knew him to regard him as fundamentally altered.

Occupation

Phineas Gage is recorded as a railroad construction foreman, born in New Hampshire (1823–1860).

Connections to New Hampshire

Phineas Gage was born in Grafton County, New Hampshire in 1823. Explore other notable figures from New Hampshire, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Phineas Gage came from Grafton County. A full Aubrey report on Grafton County pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Frequently asked about Phineas Gage

Who was Phineas Gage?
Phineas Gage was 19th century American railway worker who survived a large brain trauma, born in New Hampshire (1823 – 1860).
When and where was Phineas Gage born?
Phineas Gage was born on 1823-07-09 in Grafton County.
When did Phineas Gage die?
Phineas died on 1860-05-21.
What was Phineas Gage known for?
Phineas Gage is recorded as a railroad construction foreman.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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