San Francisco County
Biographies
SAMUEL JAMES CORBETT, M.D.
SAMUEL JAMES
CORBETT, M.D., whose office is at No. 402 O’Farrell
street, San Francisco, has
been a resident of California
since 1858, and engaged in the practice of medicine since 1868. He was born in Rome,
New York, in 1837, and is of Scotch and
French descent. His family
trace their ancestry back to 1650, when they came from Scotland
and settled in New England. His maternal grandfather was a native of
France, who came to America
previous to the Revolutionary war, and commanded a regiment as colonel on the
patriot side during that war. Dr
.Corbett’s father, Samuel Fulton Corbett, owned a farm where Rose,
New York, now stands. He died in Massachusetts
in 1849.
Samuel, our
subject, received his early education in the public schools of Newton,
Upper Falls
and Cambridgeport, Massachusetts,
and graduated at the high school of the former city. He came to California
by way of Cape Horn in 1858, and for about three years
was engaged in mining and ranching. In
1862 he joined the military company known as the California Hundred, which
became Company A., Second Massachusetts Cavalry. This command served during the war, first in
the Department of Washington, and later in the Army of the Potomac,
and for the last year in the Shenandoan
Valley in Sheridan’s
Cavalry. During that time Dr. Corbett
took part in the battles of South Anna Bridge, Brookville, Doyle’s Tavern,
Ashby’s Gap, Little River Pike, Drainsville, Rectortown, Point of Rocks, Addie,
Frederick Pike, Tenallytown, Rockville, Poolsville, Leesburg, Snicker’s Gap, Nolan’s Ford, Shepardstown, White
Post, Middletown, Kernstown, Winchester, Cedar Creek,
Perryville Pike, Charlestown, Summit Point, Halltown,
Berryville, Smithfield, Opequan Creek, Knox Ford,
Fort Royal, Snake Mountain, Luray Courthouse, Mills’ Ford, Waynesboro, Mount
Crawford, Tom’s Brook, Strasburg, Madison Court house, Gordonsville, White-Oak
road, South Anna, Dinwiddie Court house, Five Forks, Southside Railroad,
Devil’s Ford, Sailor’s Creek and Appomattox Courthouse. During these engagements Dr. Corbett was
twice wounded; first in the skirmish near Winchester,
and later at Dinwiddie Court
house. He was mustered out in July,
1865, and returned at once to California.
He soon commenced
the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr.
L. C. Lane, and at the same time entered the
medical department of the University of the Pacific, graduating at that
institution in 1868. He at once
commenced the practice of his profession, in which he has since been
continuously engaged. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Lincoln
Post, No. 1, of which he was Commander during the national campaign parade of
1886. He has been for a number of years
Surgeon of that post. In 1889 he was
elected Surgeon of the Department of California.
Transcribed 8-3-05 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 260-61, Lewis
Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2005 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library