Gorgas, William Crawford, 1854-1920

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1854-10-03
Death 1920
English,

Biographical notes:

William Crawford Gorgas, an authority in the control of yellow fever, worked as sanitation expert in the preparation and construction of the Panama Canal. He was instrumental in the investigation and control of yellow fever in Cuba, Central and South America, and Africa. Gorgas was appointed Surgeon General of the United States Army January 1914.

From the description of William Crawford Gorgas papers, 1912-1937. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 244484754

A member of the Army Medical Corps since 1880, William C. Gorgas directed sanitation work in Havana, Santiago, and Siboney, Cuba during the Spanish American War and after, from 1899 to 1902, as chief surgeon of the department of Havana. From 1904 to 1913 Gorgas led sanitation activities in the canal zone during construction of the Panama Canal. From 1914 to 1917 he served as Surgeon General of the Army.

From the guide to the William Crawford Gorgas Papers, 1890-1918, (History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine)

Surgeon General of the United States.

From the description of Gorgas collection, 1903-1933. (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Association Library). WorldCat record id: 70938939

Army medical officer.

From the description of Papers of William Crawford Gorgas, 1885-1919 (bulk 1904-1913). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84401330

Biographical Note

1854, Oct. 3 Born, Mobile, Ala. 1875 Graduated, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. 1879 Awarded doctor of medicine degree, Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, New York, N.Y. 1880 Commissioned lieutenant, United States Army Medical Corps and assigned to duty in Texas 1885 Promoted to captain 1888 Transferred from Fort Randall, N.Dak., to Fort Barrancas, Fla., to aid in control of yellow fever epidemic 1898 Promoted to major Appointed medical officer in Cuba during Spanish-American War 1899 Assumed duties as sanitation officer of Havana, Cuba, with American occupation forces 1903 Promoted to colonel in recognition for services in Cuba 1904 Appointed chief sanitation officer of the Panama Canal Zone during period of canal construction 1907 Named member of Isthmian Canal Commission 1914 Appointed surgeon general of United States Army with rank of brigadier general 1915 Promoted to major general 1916 Chief of Yellow Fever Commission, Rockefeller Foundation 1918 Official retirement from United States Army 1920, July 4 Died, London, England; buried in Arlington Cemetery

From the guide to the William Crawford Gorgas Papers, 1857-1919, (bulk 1904-1913), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Links to collections

Comparison

This is only a preview comparison of Constellations. It will only exist until this window is closed.

  • Added or updated
  • Deleted or outdated

Information

Permalink:
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Medicine, Military
  • Public health
  • Public health
  • Public health
  • Public health
  • Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
  • Tropical medicine
  • World War, 1914-1918
  • Yellow fever
  • Yellow fever
  • Yellow fever
  • Yellow fever
  • Yellow fever

Occupations:

  • Army officers
  • Physicians
  • Physicians
  • Surgeons General

Places:

  • Southern States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Cuba (as recorded)
  • Brazil (as recorded)
  • Cuba (as recorded)
  • Panama--Canal Zone (as recorded)
  • Panama (as recorded)
  • Peru (as recorded)

SNAC Cooperative Logo

Social Networks and Archival Context

SNAC is a discovery service for persons, families, and organizations found within archival collections at cultural heritage institutions.

Sponsors

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library Services
National Endowment for the Humanities

Hosts

University of Virginia Library
National Archives and Records Administration