A Firefighter for the Fun of It!

Harry Mortimer Archer was a professor of Medicine at Bellevue Hospital and the Chief Surgeon of the Fire Department of New York City. An avid fire buff, Dr. Archer was appointed 2nd Deputy Fire Commissioner of New York City, but refused to accept his salary in order to maintain his amateur buff standing.

When he began his medical career as an intern in the 1890’s at Bellevue Hospital, there were no emergency stations at fires to take care of the burned and injured. Dr. Archer, of his own accord and often at his own expense, set up facilities at the scene of many disasters. Nobody called him at first, but he was always there…sometimes ahead of the firemen, and usually ahead of any other doctors.

Dr. Archer is credited with attending more than 200,000 fires in his 60 years of buffing, and was still active well into his 80’s when he passed away.

The Harry M. Archer Medal

The Fire Department of New York

Special Order No. 180

October 4, 1920

“To be known as the ‘Harry M. Archer Medal’ and to be awarded every third year to such member of the uniformed force of the Fire Department as may have, during the three years preceeding the award, been the recipient of one or more medals…for the performance in the judgement of the Fire Commissioner and the Chief of Department of the most meritorious service or act of heroism or bravery.”

The highest honor that can be bestowed on a New York City Firefighter is to be awarded the Dr. Harry M. Archer Medal. It is reserved for the bravest of the brave.