William Maxwell Wood
William Maxwell Wood (May 27, 1809 – March 1, 1880) was a United States Navy surgeon and the first Surgeon General of the United States Navy. He played a significant role in the development of naval medicine and was instrumental in the establishment of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]
William Maxwell Wood was born on May 27, 1809, in Baltimore, Maryland. He pursued his medical education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he graduated with a degree in medicine in 1829.
[edit | edit source]
Wood joined the United States Navy as an assistant surgeon in 1829. Over the years, he served on various ships and at different naval stations. His early assignments included service on the USS Brandywine and the USS Potomac.
Mexican-American War[edit | edit source]
During the Mexican-American War, Wood served aboard the USS Mississippi. His medical expertise and leadership were crucial in managing the health and well-being of the crew during the conflict.
Civil War[edit | edit source]
In the American Civil War, Wood continued to serve with distinction. He was appointed as the first Surgeon General of the United States Navy in 1869, a position he held until 1871. During his tenure, he oversaw the reorganization and modernization of naval medical services.
[edit | edit source]
Wood was a pioneer in naval medicine, advocating for better medical facilities and practices within the Navy. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, which centralized the administration of medical services in the Navy.
Later Life and Death[edit | edit source]
After retiring from active service, Wood continued to contribute to medical literature and naval history. He passed away on March 1, 1880, in Washington, D.C..
Legacy[edit | edit source]
William Maxwell Wood's contributions to naval medicine have had a lasting impact on the field. His efforts in improving medical care for sailors and his role in establishing the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery are remembered as significant advancements in military medicine.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
- 1809 births
- 1880 deaths
- United States Navy officers
- American military personnel of the Mexican–American War
- American military personnel of the American Civil War
- Surgeons General of the United States Navy
- People from Baltimore
- University of Maryland School of Medicine alumni
- American surgeons
- Military medicine in the United States
- 19th-century American physicians
- All stub articles
- Medicine stubs
- Encyclopedia
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
