William Osler

William Osler was born on July 12, 1849 in Bond Head, Canada West [now Ontario], Canada, to a clergyman father and a missionary mother. He was the eighth of their nine children, and the fourth son. He attended various schools and colleges, and developed an interest in natural history and medicine. He graduated from McGill University with a medical degree in 1872, and then pursued further studies in Europe. He returned to Canada in 1874 and became a professor of medicine at McGill. He also worked as a physician at the Montreal General Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was known for his clinical skills, his research on various diseases, and his innovative teaching methods. He brought medical students to the bedside of patients and encouraged them to learn by observation and experience. He also wrote several books and articles, including The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892), which became a standard textbook for many years. In 1884, he married Grace Revere, a widow and a descendant of Paul Revere. They had one son, Edward Revere, who was born in 1895. In 1889, Osler moved to the United States and became one of the founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first physician-in-chief of the hospital and the first professor of medicine at the school. He continued his work as a clinician, researcher, and teacher, and also became a mentor and friend to many young doctors. He was involved in the establishment of the Association of American Physicians, the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He also helped to create the Medical Library Association and the History of Medicine Society. He was a prolific writer and speaker, and delivered many lectures and addresses on various topics, such as the history of medicine, medical ethics, medical education, and humanism in medicine. He also collected a large number of books and manuscripts, which he donated to various libraries, including McGill University and Oxford University. In 1905, Osler was invited to become the Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University in England. He accepted the offer and moved to England with his family. He became a British citizen in 1911 and was knighted by King George V in 1912. He continued his academic and professional activities, and also served as a consultant to the British Army Medical Service during World War I. His son, Edward, joined the Royal Canadian Artillery and was killed in action in 1917. Osler was deeply affected by his son's death, and his health began to decline. He contracted pneumonia and died on December 29, 1919, at the age of 70. He was buried at the All Saints Churchyard in Oxfordshire, England. He was honoured with many awards and recognitions for his work, including the Order of Merit, the Royal Medal, and the Lister Medal. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest physicians and medical educators of all time, and his legacy lives on in many institutions, societies, and scholarships that bear his name.