BIO: William THOMSON, M.D., Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Medical Men of Franklin County, 1750-1925 by Ambrose Watts Thrush, M.D.;
Chambersburg, Pa.; Medical Society of Franklin County, Page 88 
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WILLIAM THOMSON, M.D.

William Thomson was born 1833 in Chambersburg, Pa., the fourth son of the Hon. 
Alexander Thomson, L.L.D., and was educated at the Chambersburg Academy.  He 
then began the study of medicine with Dr. J. C. Richards in Chambersburg and 
alter studied with his brother, Dr. Alexander Thomson at Mount Savage, Md.  He 
entered Jefferson Medical College and graduated M.D. 1855 from this institution, 
and began the practice of medicine near Philadelphia, Pa.  In 1861 Dr. Thomson 
was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the Regular Army and served throughout the 
war with distinction, filling many important positions, one of which was that of 
Medical Inspector for the Department of Washington, D.C.

After leaving the Army at the close of the war, Dr. Thomson located in 
Philadelphia, Pa., and became in time one of the most eminent of Ophthalmic 
Surgeons.  In 1868 he became a member of the Staff of the Wills Eye and Ear 
Hospital and in 1873 was appointed Clinical Professor of Diseases of the Eye and 
Ear in Jefferson Medical College.

Dr. Thomson was a member of numerous Societies and contributed largely to 
medical literature, particularly in the line of his specialty.  In surgery he 
had acquired much experience and performed its most formidable operations.  In 
the more delicate surgery of the eye and ear he was recognized as a master.