Ernest Lichau, M.D.

 

Ernest Lichau, M.D.,   whose office is at No. 733 Geary street, San Francisco, has been a resident of California since 1874, and has been engaged in the practice of medicince since 1884.  He was born in Cassel, Germany, in 1842, and received his early education in the Royal Gymnasium, where he passed the usual examinations.  He then entered the military service, serving during the Franco-Prussian war.  He was wounded in the battle of Sedan, and was discharged from the service in December, 1870, in which year he came to the United States and settled in Chicago, where he remained four years.  In 1874, he came to California, settling in San Francisco, where he was engaged for six years in the real-estate business.  In 1880 he entered the Medical College of the Pacific, now the Cooper Medical College, where he attended three years.  Dr. Lichau then went to Germany where he entered the University of Heidelberg, which he attended one year, and then entered the Royal University Wuerzburg, at which institution he graduated in 1886, receiving his degree as Doctor of Medicine, Surgery and Gynecology.  For one year after his graduation he visited the clinics and hospitals of Paris, Vienna, Leipsic, Berlin and Halle.  In July, 1887, the Doctor returned to San Francisco, and entered upon the practice of medicine in his present locality.

Dr. Lichau’s family are an old and highly connected one of Hesse, his father having been private secretary of the king of Hesse for forty-five years, serving three kings in that capacity, and occupying the position up to within two months of the dethronement of the king of Hesse by the Prussian government in 1866.  For generations the family have held similar positions at the court of Hesse.  After the annexation of Hesse to Prussia, Dr. Lichau no longer felt like remaining under the Prussian government, and as soon as he was discharged from the army he determined to make his home in America.

Louise E. Shoemaker, Transcriber September 27^th, 2004.