Beaumont, William, 1785-1853

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Physician and physiologist.

From the description of William Beaumont collection, 1834-[ca. 1879]. (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52247530

A native of Lebanon, Connecticut, Beaumont was certified to practice medicine by the Third Medical Society of Vermont in 1812. He served in the army during the War of 1812 and from 1819 to 1839 was an army medical officer. During that time he served at posts in the midwest including Fort Mackinac, Michigan; Fort Niagara; Fort Howard in Green Bay; Fort Crawford, Wisconsin; and Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis. On several occasions from 1825 to 1833, Beaumont studied the digestive process through a gunshot-wound patient he had treated in 1822 and whose wound had never fully healed, leaving Dr. Beaumont with unique access to the patient's stomach. Beaumont is known as the father of gastric physiology. He wrote Experiments and observations on the gastric juice and the physiology of digestion (1833).

From the description of William Beaumont papers, 1812-1879. (National Library of Medicine). WorldCat record id: 14315422

From the guide to the William Beaumont Papers, 1812-1959, (History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine)

U. S. Army surgeon.

From the description of William Beaumont papers, 1816-1944. (Duke University). WorldCat record id: 34838558

William Beaumont was born in Lebanon, Connecticut in 1785. He obtained a primary education and remained on his family's farm until he reached the age of 21. During the winter of 1806-1807, he traveled to Champlain, New York, to live with his brother Samuel, and teach school. During this period he borrowed medical books from Dr. Seth Pomeroy of Burlington, Vermont. In 1810 Beaumont informed his parents that he would begin studying "physic" as an apprentice to Dr. Benjamin Chandler of St. Albans, Vermont, while supporting himself by store keeping. After receiving his license to practice in Vermont in 1812, Beaumont enlisted in the U.S. Army as a military surgeon for three years. Following five years in private practice in Plattsburgh, he was commissioned as a post surgeon at Fort Mackinac, Michigan. There he saved the life of wounded fur trapper Alexis St. Martin. St. Martin was left with a fistula to his stomach. Beaumont became celebrated as a scientist through publication in 1833 of his long series of experiments on digestion that he performed on St. Martin. In 1834 Beaumont was sent to St. Louis, where resigned from the military five years later and spent the remainder of his life in private practice.

From the description of William Beaumont papers, 1763-1891. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 703652815

From the description of William Beaumont papers, 1763-1891. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702172160

Physician and United States Army surgeon. Pioneer in study of and experimentation in functions in the human stomach.

From the description of William Beaumont papers, 1807-1879. 1807-1879. (Washington University in St. Louis). WorldCat record id: 29541458

Army surgeon noted for his scientific research on the human digestive process.

From the description of Papers, 1807-1889. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83235175

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. William Beaumont papers, 1763-1891. Yale University, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library
creatorOf Dunglison, Robley, 1798-1869. Autobiographical ana (p. 139-476) [manuscript] 1824-1851. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Cole, B. Theodore. Doctor and patient : Beaumont and Alixus St. Martin : typescript, 1984 / by B. Theodore Cole. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Russell Henry Chittenden papers, 1870-1945 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf William Beaumont Papers, 1812-1959 History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. William Beaumont papers, 1763-1891. Yale University, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library
referencedIn Paine, Lemuel C. Papers, 1811-1820. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Letters to Charles Eliot Norton and other papers, 1702-1952 Houghton Library
referencedIn Alexis St. Martin collection 1879 St. Martin, Alexis collection William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Chittenden, Russell Henry, 1856-1943. Russell Henry Chittenden papers, 1870-1945 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. William Beaumont papers, 1812-1879. National Library of Medicine
referencedIn Martin, M. L. (Morgan Lewis), 1805-1887. Papers, 1645-1931. University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, Cofrin Library
referencedIn McLellan family,. Local history materials, [ca. 1790]-1973. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Papers, 1929-1998 (Inclusive) Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn Martin, M. L. (Morgan Lewis), 1805-1887. Morgan Martin papers, 1645-1931. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919. William Osler correspondence collection, 1888-1919 Washington University in St. Louis, Bernard Becker Medical Library
referencedIn Myer, Alma M., 1890-1981. Alma M. Myer papers Washington University in St. Louis, Bernard Becker Medical Library
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. Papers, 1814-1853, 1915-1935. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Division of Nutritional Sciences,. Division of Nutritional Sciences collection of photographs and biographies of scientists, 1716-1984. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn University of Minnesota. Dept. of Surgery. Papers of the University of Minnesota Department of Surgery, 1927-1968. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. Papers, 1807-1889. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. William Beaumont papers, 1807-1879. Washington University in St. Louis, Bernard Becker Medical Library
creatorOf [William Beaumont, biographical materials] University of Wisconsin - Madison, General Library System
referencedIn Kent-Delord miscellaneous papers, 1773-1859. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn New York University. School of Medicine. Individuals, doctors, surgeons : Isidor Greenwald papers, n.d. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Chittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry), 1856-1943. Russell Henry Chittenden papers, 1870-1945 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. William Beaumont papers, 1816-1944. Duke University, Medical Center Library & Archives
creatorOf Beaumont, William, 1785-1853. William Beaumont collection, 1834-[ca. 1879]. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Luckhardt, Arno B. (Arno Benedict), 1885-. Papers, 1923-1954. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Luckhardt, Arno B. Papers, 1918-1954 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
creatorOf The William and Samuel Beaumont papers, 1807-1835. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Kean, Jefferson Randolph, 1860-1950. Papers of Jefferson Randolph Kean, 1765-1938. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Cook, Jerome E., 1884-1964. Oral history interview with Jerome E. Cook, 1961. Washington University in St. Louis, Bernard Becker Medical Library
referencedIn Papers of the University of Minnesota Department of Surgery, 1927-1968 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beaumont, Abel, d. 1875. person
associatedWith Beaumont family family
associatedWith Beaumont family. family
associatedWith Beaumont family. family
associatedWith Beaumont family. family
associatedWith Beaumont, Lucretia, 1760-1835. person
associatedWith Beaumont Medical Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Beaumont Medical Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Beaumont, Samuel, 1755-1814. person
associatedWith Beaumont, Samuel, Jr., d. 1813. person
associatedWith Chittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry), 1856-1943. person
associatedWith Cole, B. Theodore. person
associatedWith Cook, Jerome E., 1884-1964 person
associatedWith Division of Nutritional Sciences, person
associatedWith Dousman, Hercules L. (Hercules Louis), 1800-1868. person
associatedWith Dunglison, Robley, 1798-1869. person
associatedWith Etheridge, James Henry, 1844-1899 person
associatedWith Hitchcock, Ethan Allen, 1798-1870. person
associatedWith Kean, Jefferson Randolph, 1860-1950. person
associatedWith Luckhardt, Arno B. (Arno Benedict), 1885- person
associatedWith Luckhardt, Arnot S. person
associatedWith Macdonough, Thomas, 1783-1825. person
associatedWith Martin, M. L. (Morgan Lewis), 1805-1887. person
associatedWith McLellan family, family
associatedWith Myer, Alma M., 1890-1981 person
associatedWith New York University. School of Medicine. corporateBody
correspondedWith Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908 person
associatedWith Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919. person
associatedWith Paine, Lemuel C. person
associatedWith Randolph, Theron G. person
associatedWith St. Martin, Alexis, 1797?-1880. person
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Medical Service. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota. Dept. of Surgery. corporateBody
associatedWith Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.). School of Medicine. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)
Lebanon (Conn.)
Lebanon (Conn.)
United States
Subject
Digestion
Digestive organs
Digestive system
Families
Land speculation
Medicine, Military
Medicine, Military
Medicine, Military
Medicine, Military
Physicians
Physiology
Stomach
Surgery, Military
Occupation
Physicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1785-11-21

Death 1853-04-25

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