Born: 2 May 1903
Died: 15 March 1998 (Natural causes, age 94)
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut
Best known as:
The author of Baby and Child Care

4 good links

The Spock Touch
Salon magazine recaps his career and his influence
Benjamin Spock Obituary
From the 1994 New York Times
The Spock Legacy
Yale's alumni magazine remembers him through testimonials
Physician, Heal Thyself
Brilliant guy, bad dad, that's what they say

Benjamin Spock Biography

Draft Card Smoke +40 Years

Dr. Benjamin Spock's book Baby and Child Care was published in 1946, just in time for the post-World War II baby boom, and became a best-selling guide to child rearing. Pediatrician Spock encouraged new parents to use common sense and to treat children with respect. This led some critics to call him the "Father of Permissiveness," in spite of Spock's protests to the contrary. In the 1960s Spock gained new fame as a pacifist and Vietnam War protester.

Extra credit:

Spock rowed on Yale's crew team, and with them won a gold medal in the 1924 Olympics... Contrary to popular rumor, Dr. Spock's son did not commit suicide. His grandson Peter did commit suicide in 1983... Spock is occasionally confused with Mr. Spock of the TV show Star Trek.