Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/1262

NAME WILLIAMS 1240 WILLIAMS of the Eye" appeared, and in 1865 his essay, "Recent Advances in Ophthalmic Science," won the Boylston prize. In 1881 his most im- portant work appeared, "The Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases of the Eye" (second edition, 1886). These works presented the science and practice of ophthalmology in the clearest manner and in accordance with the most advanced thought of the day, and their popularity was attested by the demand for new editions. His greatest influence was exercised as a teacher and lecturer (1869) and later (1871) as professor of ophthalmology in Harvard Medical School, also in the medical societies in which he took an active and leading part, being president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 1880-1882, and of the Massachusetts Medical Benevolent Society from 1871 to 1894. He was an excellent presiding officer. He impressed his strong personality on his medical brethren, as he lived and worked largely for them. He was, all in all, a doctor first, and other things afterwards. . . . Of large stature and strong character he was a conspicuous figure on all medical oc- casions and proved a frequent, forcible and persuasive speaker. Conservative to a fault, he was yet kindly and thoughtful of his pro- fessional brothers. He did not grow old, but retained his enthusiasm to a remarkable degree. In 1864 he was one of those who founded the American Ophthalmological Society, and was for many years its president. On retiring in 1891 from the chair of ophthalmologj", on accoimt of ill health, he endowed the profes- sorship. His sons, Charles (q.v.) and Edward, followed their father as ophthalmologists; an- other son, Francis Henry, likewise became a physician. Dr. Williams died in Boston June 13, 1895. H.-^RRY FrIEDENWALD. Trans. Am. Oph. Soc, vol. vii. Boston Med. & Surg. Jour., June 27, 189S, vol. cxxxii, p. 654. Ifistory of Boston Citv Hospital, 1906. Knapp'8 Archives of Ophthal., vol. xxiv. Williams, Nathaniel (1675-1738) Nathaniel Williams filled the triple role of preacher, physician and schoolmaster. The union of these three professions was no in- frequent occurrence at the time he lived. In each he appears to have played well his part. He was the son of Nathaniel and Mary Oliver Williams and was born in Boston, August 23, 1675. He graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1693, and in the sum- mer of 1698 was ordained, according to the sermon preached at his funeral by Thomas Prince, "an Evangelist in the college hall, for one of the West India Islands. But the cli- mate not agreeing with his constitution, he soon returned to his native cit3'." At one time he was engaged giving private instruction to boys I he had the reputation of being an ex- cellent classical scholar. In the year 1703 he was appointed usher at the Boston Latin School, and subsequently was chosen to the headmastership, a position he held until 1734. He studied chemistry and physic under his uncle, the learned Dr. James Oliver of Cam- bridge and even while teaching, continued to practise medicine. He died January 10, 1738. The Bostofi Weekly News Letter of January 12 calls him "the Reverend and Learned Mr. Nathaniel Williams," and speaks of him "as a very skil- ful and successful Physician." He wrote a medical pamphlet published posthumously under the title of "The Method of Practice in the Small-Pox, with Observa- tions on the Way of Inoculation. Published for the Common Advantage, more especially of the Country Towns, who may be visited with that Distemper," Boston, 1752. A Centennial Address on the Hist, of Med. in Mass., S. A. Green, Groton, 1881, p. 54 & 62. Williams, Obadiah (1752-1799) This pioneer physician of central Maine was born in Antrim, New Hampshire, March 21, 1752, and after studying medicine with some physician of that town, started off as surgeon's mate to the battle of Bunker Hill, and did his share of medical work throughout the Revo- lution. He seems to have served as a surgeon for some years, but his record is dusky through the mist of a century or more, and traces of him are hard to find, until we first actually meet him at Sydney, Winslow and Waterville aliout 1792. It is, however, possible that Dr. Williams came to Winslow and Waterville on hearing that the death of John McKechnie (q.v.) had left that settlement without a phy- sician. At all events, we hear of his building a log cabin in 1792. Owing to the increasing prac- tice he soon put up a one-story frame house, the first in the town, now known as the old Parker House. The next three years brought more business, and he built the first two-story frame house, which later became a hotel. He married Hannah Clifford, and had seven chil- dren. Williams was very kind and generous to Moses Appleton (q.v.), who settled in the same town when Dr. Williams grew older. In this same generous spirit, Williams gave