William Webster Fisher
Encyclopedia
William Webster Fisher, M.D, (1798?-1874), was Downing Professor of Medicine
at Cambridge University.
Fisher, a native of Westmoreland
, was born in or about 1798. He studied in the first instance at the University of Montpellier
, where he befriended Auguste Comte
and took the degree of M.D. in 1825. Two years later he was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where his brother, the Rev. John Hutton Fisher, was a fellow and assistant-tutor. He later migrated to Downing College
, where he graduated M.B. in 1834. Shortly afterwards he succeeded to a fellowship. Elected to the Downing Professorship of Medicine in 1841, Fisher resigned his fellowship in 1844. He, however, continued to hold some college offices.
In 1841 he proceeded M.D. His lectures were well attended. He acted for many years as one of the university examiners of students in medicine, and was an ex officio member of the university board of medical studies. In addition to fulfilling the duties of his professorship, Fisher had a large practice as a physician at Cambridge. He was formerly one of the physicians to Addenbrooke's Hospital
, and on his resignation was appointed consulting physician there. Although for some time he had given up medical practice, he regularly delivered courses of lectures until 1868, after which they were read by a deputy, P. W. Latham, M.D., late fellow of Downing. Fisher was a fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
, and a contributor to its Transactions. He was highly esteemed in the university for his professional attainments and his conversational powers. He died at his lodge in Downing College, 4 October 1874, in his seventy-sixth year.
Downing Professor of Medicine
The Downing Professorship of Medicine was one of the senior professorships in medicine at the University of Cambridge.The chair was founded in 1800 as a bequest of Sir George Downing, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge...
at Cambridge University.
Fisher, a native of Westmoreland
Westmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
, was born in or about 1798. He studied in the first instance at the University of Montpellier
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
, where he befriended Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
and took the degree of M.D. in 1825. Two years later he was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where his brother, the Rev. John Hutton Fisher, was a fellow and assistant-tutor. He later migrated to Downing College
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, where he graduated M.B. in 1834. Shortly afterwards he succeeded to a fellowship. Elected to the Downing Professorship of Medicine in 1841, Fisher resigned his fellowship in 1844. He, however, continued to hold some college offices.
In 1841 he proceeded M.D. His lectures were well attended. He acted for many years as one of the university examiners of students in medicine, and was an ex officio member of the university board of medical studies. In addition to fulfilling the duties of his professorship, Fisher had a large practice as a physician at Cambridge. He was formerly one of the physicians to Addenbrooke's Hospital
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Addenbrooke's Hospital is an internationally renowned teaching hospital in Cambridge, England, with strong links to the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1766 on Trumpington Street with £4,500 from the will of Dr John Addenbrooke, a fellow of St Catharine's College...
, and on his resignation was appointed consulting physician there. Although for some time he had given up medical practice, he regularly delivered courses of lectures until 1868, after which they were read by a deputy, P. W. Latham, M.D., late fellow of Downing. Fisher was a fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
Cambridge Philosophical Society
The Cambridge Philosophical Society is a scientific society at University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1819. The name derives from the medieval use of the word philosophy to denote any research undertaken outside the fields of theology and medicine...
, and a contributor to its Transactions. He was highly esteemed in the university for his professional attainments and his conversational powers. He died at his lodge in Downing College, 4 October 1874, in his seventy-sixth year.