DR. THOMAS HAMEL PINKERTON 

Dr. Thomas Hamel Pinkerton, a pioneer physician of Oakland, who has from the first ranked first among the foremost and most creditable representatives of the medical profession in the cities of the Bay, is a native of New England, born at Amesbury, Massachusetts, June 20, 1817, his parents being Archibald and Fanny (Walker) Pinkerton. His father, a native of the north of Ireland, was reared and married there, afterward moving to America and settling in Massachusetts with his bride. Both parents lived out their lives in that State, the father dying at West Cambridge while our subject was a mere boy, and the mother surviving him until September 26, 1890, when her death occurred, at Malden, when she had reached the venerable age of ninety-seven years, five months and twenty-two days. 

Dr. Pinkerton, whose name introduces this sketch, when quite young accompanied his parents in their removal from Amesbury to Lynn, and at the latter place he continued the schooling already begun at his birthplace. At the age of fifteen years he went to Boston to learn a trade, but, becoming dissatisfied after a brief experience there, he went home to West Cambridge, whither the family had meantime removed, and there attended private school. He early took up the study of medicine, for which science he contracted a taste developed from his nature, his first reading and efforts at practice being in the Thompsonian school, as a disciple of which method he entered into practice in Boston. Although solicited, however, he did not take the honorary degree at Worcester. As he prospered in his profession his leaning toward the regular schol [sic] increased, resulting in his commencing attendance at the Harvard Medical School, where, after a full course, he was graduated, in 1859. He remained in Boston until September, 1860, when on account of failing health and to escape the rigors of the Eastern winter, he set out by water for this distant region. He made the journey from Boston to San Francisco around Cape Horn in the clipper ship Ringleader, leaving Boston September 10, 1860, and sailing into San Francisco harbor through the Golden Gate, January 5, 1861. He came to this State with valuable letters of introduction, and upon landing he at once presented a letter to Mr. J. O. Eldridge, a prominent business man of San Francisco, through whom he was presented to Mr. George Hearst, a gentleman of wide reputation and controlling large mining interests in Virginia City, Nevada. Through him Dr. Pinkerton learned of the vast possibilities of the new Nevada mining camp. 

Proceeding by boat to Sacramento, and thence by stage to Virginia City, during the winter, when the ground much of the way was covered by a deep snow, he arrived safely at his journey’s end, but after much exposure and risk. On that trip he had the fortune of having for his driver the celebrated “reinsman” “Hank” Monk, who as master of the art of staging has a place all his own in California and Nevada history. 

The Doctor was the first surgeon to permanently locate in Virginia City, Nevada, and San Francisco. The very next day after his arrival he had his first case of surgery, a man injured in one of the mines. He was the official surgeon of the extensive Ophir Company, and also for a time directed the surgical cases of the Gould & Curry miners. He was appointed City Physician of Virginia City, later County Physician of Story county, and superintended the building of the Virginia City hospital, of which he took charge for a period of five years. 

After the breaking out of the civil war he was employed by Jacob Van Bucklen, Provost Marshal, as Government contract surgeon, which position he held until the close of the war. 

In June, 1866, he came to California, locating at Oakland, which town was then in her infancy and contained only three physicians, all of whom have long since disappeared from this scene of action, so that he is now the oldest physician in point of residence and length of practice in the city. He has ever maintained his place in the very foremost rank of his profession, which he has done much to honor. He has always taken an active interest in all matters calculated for the advancement of the science of medicine. In 1870—’74 he was Health Officer of the city of Oakland, and is now President of the Board of Health. 

He belonged to the Massachusetts Medical Society before removing to the coast, and still retains his membership. Was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Alameda County Medical Association, and was its first President. He is an active, influential member of the California State Medical Society, was its Vice-President during the presidency of Dr. G. H. Shurtleff, and succeeded that gentleman to the chief executive office the following year. He also belongs to the American Medical Association. Socially his is a prominent figure in local Masonry, being a member of Oakland Lodge, F. & A. M., Oakland Chapter, R. A. M., Oakland Council, R. & S. M., and Oakland Commandery, K. T. 

He has been twice married: first, in Massachusetts, to a widow, Mrs. Winslow, whose maiden was Mary Trull; she died in Boston, leaving three children, who are now living, viz.: Caroline Elizabeth (Mrs. Knowles), of Dorchester, Massachusetts; Althea Maria, married and a resident of Boston; and George Francis, who resides in the same city. For his present wife the Doctor married Mary Josephine Atwell, at Virginia City, in 1866, who was a native of New York State. 

Dr. Pinkerton is a man of sunny disposition, whom it is a pleasure to meet and know socially. He is endowed by nature with a wonderful physique, and though his life has been an active one, marked by the exposures and fatigues of the faithful physician who has made a success of his calling, his considerably over three-score years and ten rest lightly upon him, while his appearance would indicate that he is yet but in the prime of his youthfulness. 

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker 

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, page(s) 505-506, Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.