Person Information

Biography

WILLIAM B. HERRICK (1813-1865)
"The first president of the Illinois State Medical Society and twice president of the Chicago Medical Society, Dr. William B. Herrick was closely identified with the early history of Rush Medical College.
He was born at Durham, Maine, September 20, 1813. He attended medical lectures at Bowdoin and Dartmouth colleges and was graduated from the latter in 1836. The following year he went to Louisville, Ky., where he was appointed assistant demonstrator of anatomy in Louisville Medical College. Removing to Hillsboro, Ill., in 1839, he entered practice and in 1840 married Miss Martha J. Seward, a kinswoman of William H. Seward.
He joined the faculty of Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1844, and became lecturer on anatomy at that time. He was appointed professor of anatomy in 1845.

On the opening of hostilities with Mexico, he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the First Illinois Infantry and, with General Wool’s division, he was in the engagement at Buena Vista. Later he was placed in charge of the hospital at Saltillo. He became a victim of exposure and, resigning in 1847, resumed his professionalwork in Chicago. He remained professor of anatomy at Rush until 1855, when he was made professor of physiology and histology. He continued to occupy the latter chair until 1857.

Dr. Herrick, in the summer of 1850, helped to organize the Illinois State Medical Society and was elected first president of that body. In the same year he assisted in the foundation of the Chicago Medical Society, whose president he was in 1851 and again in 1853.

Disabilities which he contracted in the Mexican war compelled him to retire in 1857, and return to Maine, where he died December 31, 1865.

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Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
WILLIAM B. HERRICK (1813-1865) "The first president of the Illinois State Medical Society and twice president of the Chicago Medical Society, Dr. William B. Herrick was closely identified with the early history of Rush Medical College. He was born at Durham, Maine, September 20, 1813. He attended medical lectures at Bowdoin and Dartmouth colleges and was graduated from the latter in 1836. The following year he went to Louisville, Ky., where he was appointed assistant demonstrator of anatomy in Louisville Medical College. Removing to Hillsboro, Ill., in 1839, he entered practice and in 1840 married Miss Martha J. Seward, a kinswoman of William H. Seward. He joined the faculty of Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1844, and became lecturer on anatomy at that time. He was appointed professor of anatomy in 1845. On the opening of hostilities with Mexico, he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the First Illinois Infantry and, with General Wool’s division, he was in the engagement at Buena Vista. Later he was placed in charge of the hospital at Saltillo. He became a victim of exposure and, resigning in 1847, resumed his professionalwork in Chicago. He remained professor of anatomy at Rush until 1855, when he was made professor of physiology and histology. He continued to occupy the latter chair until 1857. Dr. Herrick, in the summer of 1850, helped to organize the Illinois State Medical Society and was elected first president of that body. In the same year he assisted in the foundation of the Chicago Medical Society, whose president he was in 1851 and again in 1853. Disabilities which he contracted in the Mexican war compelled him to retire in 1857, and return to Maine, where he died December 31, 1865.
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
History of Medicine and Surgery and Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
Council of the Chicago Medical Society
Publisher Location: 
Chicago
Publisher Name: 
The Biographical Publishing Corporation
Year: 
1922
Start Page: 
42
Citation Notes: 
Google Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=HWVVAAAAYAAJ&dq=History%20of%20Medicine%20and%20Surgery%20and%20Physicians%20and%20Surgeons%20of%20Chicago&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q=herrick&f=false
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
History of Medicine and Surgery and Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
Council of the Chicago Medical Society
Publisher Location: 
Chicago
Publisher Name: 
The Biographical Publishing Corporation
Year: 
1922
Start Page: 
42
Citation Notes: 
Google Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=HWVVAAAAYAAJ&dq=History%20of%20Medicine%20and%20Surgery%20and%20Physicians%20and%20Surgeons%20of%20Chicago&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q=herrick&f=false
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97661832/william-b-herrick
Title of Webpage: 
Find A Grave
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 14:15
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 14:15