WILLIAM WATT KERR, M.D.

 

 

 

William Watt Kerr, M. D., whose office is at No. 522 Sutter street, San Francisco, has been a resident of California since 1882, and since that time has been engaged in practice of medicine.  He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1857, the son of Andrew Kerr, who was for many years a prominent architect of Edinburgh, and a member of Her Majesty’s Board of Work, which had charge of all Government buildings and public works in Scotland.  He was also a noted antiquarian, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians. The Kerr family is one of the oldest of the border families of Scotland.  William received his education in the private schools, and later in the Royal High School, where he went through a four years’ course.  He then attended the literary department of Edinburgh University, where, after four years’ course, he graduated with the degree of Master of Arts.  He commenced the study of medicine in the same university in 1876, graduating in 1881, and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, Licentiate in Midwifery and Master of Surgery.  He also visited the hospitals in London and Paris, attending their clinics several months, and until coming to California in December 1881, he was engaged in practice as an assistant physician.  Dr. Kerr at once commenced practice in San Francisco, in which he has since continued.  In December, 1886, he was appointed Professor of Therapeutics in the medicine department of the University of California, and at the same time was appointed Associate to the Chair of Clinical Medicine, and Visiting Physician to the city and county hospital.  In the latter part of 1888, at the death of Dr. Kane, he resigned the Chair of Therapeutics, and was appointed to the Chair of Clinical Medicine, which position he still holds.  Dr. Kerr has been Secretary of the State Medical Society of California since 1888, and of the County Medical Society of San Francisco since 1884.

 

 

"The Bay of San Francisco" Volume 1. Lewis Publishing Company 1892. Page 451-452.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.