Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Joseph Jr. WILSON
Born in Holmesburg, Phila., 1816: educated at Bolmer's Academy, West Chester, Pa.; graduated Medical Department, University of Pennsylvania, 1837; acting demonstrator of anatomy, U. of P., 1837-38; practicing physician in Holmesburg, 1838-42; Assistant Surgeon, United States Navy, 1842; and continued in the service until 1878, retiring as Medical Director with rank of Captain; died 1889.
Joseph Wilson, Jr., M.D., was born in Holmesburg, Phila. January 6, 1816, son of Dr.
Joseph and Mary Paul (Shallcross) Wilson, of Quaker ancestry in both lines of descent. Stephen Wilson, the first of the family in America, went to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, by way of New York, before the arrival of William Penn. Among the ancestors are the Shallcrosses, the Pauls, the Baileys and the Canbys, all well-known Quaker names, represented by men prominent in the earlier local history of Philadelphia County. Dr. Wilson received his early education at private schools in Holmesburg, completing his collegiate training at Bolmars Academy, then located at West Chester, Pennsylvania. He graduated medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1837, and following graduation was for one year Acting Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University. He then entered the practice of his profession in Holmesburg where he continued until appointed Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy in 1842. The following year while awaiting orders, he was in practice in Frankford, Philadelphia. From 1843, Dr. Wilson's active life was spent in the Naval service, the record of his promotions and rankings being as follows: Entered as Assistant Surgeon, ranking Lieutenant March, 1848; Surgeon, ranking Lieutenant-Commander, April 19, 1857; Medical Inspector, ranking commander, May 23, 1871; Medical Director, ranking Captain, June 27, 1873; retired at the age limit in January, 1878.
Dr. Wilson was first ordered to duty on the Pacific Coast, where he remained four and a half years, that period including the period of the Mexican War. During a portion of this time he was detached and assigned to land duty as Chief Surgeon on the staff of General John C. Fremont who was then in command in California. In 1848 he was ordered to duty on the flagship Savannah of the African Coast Blockading Squadron. In 1850 he was recalled to duty at the Washington Navy Yard, and after two years there he was assigned to Commodore M. C. Perry's (Peary?) Japan Expedition, during which he was very favorably mentioned in Perry's official dispatches. From 1855 to 1857 he was stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and was then, on the Vandalia, again ordered to the Pacific Coast Station, continuing until 1859. In 1860 he was attached to the Powhaten in the Gulf of Mexico; from 1861-1863 with the Michigan in Lake Michigan: and from 1863-1865 on the Vanderbilt on the Atlantic Coast. In 1866 he became Surgeon in charge of the Norfolk Hospital, and two years later, Fleet Surgeon of the South Atlantic Squadron. For four years from 1871, he was Medical Director of the Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Dr. Wilson during his term of service performed more than the usual amount of sea duty; and while on shore duty was invariably assigned to additional service on examining boards, and in this connection he is most favorably remembered by present medical officers of the Navy. He was a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He wrote two imminently successful books: Naval Hygiene; and Easy Lessons in Sanitary Science. He was married in 1850 to his cousin, Elizabeth Love. Dr. Wilson died March 7, 1887.
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