104 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Dr. Walker was the second son in a large family of children. He was educated in the 

 public schools of Charlestown, prepared for college at Phillips Academy, and graduated at 

 Harvard in the class of 1810. He studied medicine with Dr. (afterward Governor) John 

 Brooks at Medford, giving particular attention to the branches of physiology and anatomy. 

 While yet a student, he won the prize of the Boylstou Medical Committee at Harvard Col- 

 lege for an essay on Hydrocephalus, in 1813. 



Graduating the same year at the Massachusetts Medical College, he sailed for France 

 and entered the Paris hospitals, where he found unusual opportunities for study and prac- 

 tice on account of the scarcity of French students, caused by the rigid conscriptions of 

 Napoleon. He had the advantage of being under the instruction of many of the ablest 

 French surgeons of the time, and subsequently was a pupil of Sir Astley Cooper in Lon- 

 don, where he spent six months in the hospitals. Then, returning home, he entered upon 

 the practice of his profession in Charlestown, and soon established his reputation as a very 

 able practitioner. He was appointed physician to the Massachusetts State Prison and con- 

 sulting surgeon to the Massachusetts General Hospital. He practised in Charlestown about 

 thirty years, but finally withdrew from his profession, and moved to Boston. This course 

 was looked upon by his numerous patients with the greatest disappointment and sorrow, as 

 he had devoted himself to them with the utmost faithfulness and kindness, and was univer- 

 sally beloved by all whom he had occasion to care for professionally, more especially by 

 those who were poor and helpless. 



Although probably while he practised, he had no superior in surgery, yet he was among 

 his contemporaries quite unpopular as a man, owing to his marked peculiarities. But with 

 all this, he] was very kind toward young physicians, and was much consulted by them. 

 He had an extensive experience as a medical instructor, and was very successful. His 

 well known accurate knowledge of anatomy and careful investigation into the natural 

 history of disease, caused him to be Avidely looked up to, and his j^upils were numerous. 



Upon removing to Boston, he interested himself in financial and business matters, espec- 

 ially in manuflictures and railroads, and from his great shrewdness in investments, rather 

 than in speculations, rapidly amassed a large fortune, which he no sooner obtained than he 

 set himself to expend in the most enlightened and generous manner. He gave away during 

 his lifetime very great sums to various of the educational institutions of his native State 

 and at his death left still larger amounts for such noble purposes. He was a most munifi- 

 cent friend to the Society of Natural History. The amounts of money which he gave out- 

 right and willed to the Society are elsewhese summed up in detail, and it is only necessary 

 here to say that without his magnificent generosity, the Society would have been to-day 

 in far difterent circumstances from those in which it finds itself; owing as it does in great 

 measure to him the buildinu; in which is its home. It can never fors:et its a:reat obliga- 

 tions to him, and will hold his memory in grateful remembrance. 



Dr. Walker died in Newport, R. I., whither he had removed the latter part of his life, 

 on the 2d of April, 1865. He had married in 1817, Eliza Hurd, daughter of Joseph Hurd 

 of Charlestown. By her he had eight children, five of whom, with the widow, survived 

 him. 



On the 15th day of April a special meeting of the Council was held for the purpose of 

 healing a statement from the executors of the will of the late Dr. William J. Walker rela- 



