A professional group of dentists established in 1894 to honor the memory of Horace Wells, the father of anesthesia.
1844
Horace Wells discovers the anesthetic effects of nitrous oxide gas in Hartford
1894
The Horace Wells Club is founded on the fiftieth anniversary of his discovery
40
Active members, all dental professionals
$1,000
Minimum scholarship award for Connecticut dental students
Welcome
The Horace Wells Club is a professional group of dentists that was established in 1894 to honor the memory of Horace Wells, the father of anesthesia.
The American Dental Association in 1864 and the American Medical Association in 1870 and 1944 recognized Dr. Wells as the Discoverer of Anesthesia. Our final goal is to promote the study of anesthesia in dentistry.
We hope our website educates you on the historical journey of anesthesia in Connecticut and informs you of the projects we do to keep the memory of Horace Wells alive and well.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of The Horace Wells Club
Our Work
I.
We promote the memory of Dr. Wells by maintaining historical records of his discoveries, which can be found in the Connecticut Historical Society.
Historical documentsII.
The Horace Wells statue in Bushnell Park has been maintained by funds from our Trust.
See the timelineIII.
At our annual meeting in December, we honor present day anesthesiologists and pain management doctors who continue advancing the path Dr. Wells began on December 11, 1844.
Our historyIV.
The Horace Wells Trust Fund scholarship was developed to assist dental students from Connecticut with the cost of their dental education.
Scholarship details
Our History
Horace Wells (1815–1848) was a dentist who practiced in Hartford, Connecticut, and is credited as the discoverer of anesthesia. His friends urged him to patent his discovery. Wells, who already held two patents, responded:
Read his story“No. Let it be as free as the air we breathe.”
Horace Wells
Students
Dental students may apply to receive The Horace Wells Club Dental Student Scholarship.
Scholarship details