354 ALFRED HOSMER. 



ALFRED HOSMER. 



Alfred Hosmer, of Watertown, Massachusetts, a Fellow of the 

 Academy from 1879, was born at Newton, September 11, 1821, but 

 removed with his mother to Walpole, New Hampshire, when nine 

 years of age. Notwithstanding the limited opportunities for educa- 

 tion afforded by a small country town, he qualified himself for ad- 

 mission to Harvard College, where he graduated with honor in 

 1853, and received his degree of M. D. in 1856. He spent nearly 

 a year of study in Europe before beginning the practice of his 

 profession at Watertown, where he soon gained reputation as a 

 worthy successor -of his uncle, Dr. Hiram Hosmer, a physician 

 and surgeon of great rejKite. From this time until his last illness 

 he enjoyed in an exceptionally high degree the confidence of the 

 community in his own and the neighboring towns, and won the re- 

 spect of his confreres by his untiring energy, accurate observation, 

 sound judgment, fertility of resources, and unswerving fidelity to 

 every duty. 



Soon after his establishment at Watertown he married Helen 

 Augusta, daughter of Josiah Stickney, Esq., and she, a daughter, 

 and a son survive him. 



Dr. Hosmer's published papers were marked by originality and 

 independence, by alertness in discerning the presence of unusual 

 features in disease, and readiness and good judgment in the adap- 

 tation of suitable means to the existing circumstances. 



Dr. Hosmer was President of the Middlesex South District 

 Medical Society; President of the Boston Obstetrical Society; and 

 for many years a Councillor of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 

 and was its President in 1882 and 1883. 



Exceptionally brilliant as was Dr. Hosmer's professional career, 

 this by no means included all of his public service. His vigorous 

 activity and faithfulness were conspicuous iu the affairs of citizen- 

 ship, as well as in the duties of his chosen vocation. Among the 

 offices of honor and trust to which he was for many years re-elected 

 b}' his fellow-townsmen, he was a member of the School Commit- 

 tee, Trustee of the Public Library, Trustee and President of the 

 Savings Bank, and President of the Watertown Historical Society. 

 He was for many years surgeon of the United States Arsenal at 

 Watertown. 



Through the influence of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the 

 Legislature of the State, during the administration of Governor 



