Hosmer Allen Johnson

Hosmer Allen Johnson, M.D., L.L.D. (October 6, 1822 – February 26, 1891) was an American physician, academic, and Mason from New York. Badly injured on the family farm, Johnson turned to teaching to support himself. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to attend Rush Medical College. There, he became an understudy of William B. Herrick and joined his medical practice. Receiving a Doctor of Medicine in 1852, Johnson was named Lecturer on Physiology at Rush, eventually chairing a department there. In 1859, he co-founded the Chicago Medical College at Lind University, which later became the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University. During the Civil War, Johnson was the top medical aide in the state, presiding over the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Illinois.

Biography Hosmer Allen Johnson was born in Wales, New York, on October 6, 1822. While still and infant, the family moved to Boston, New York. There, Johnson attended public schools. When he was twelve, the family moved to Almont, Michigan; helping with the family farm there, Johnson was unable to attend school. When he was sixteen, Johnson sustained a grievous injury and was no longer able to perform manual labor. In 1840, Johnson began teaching school. Three years later, Johnson decided to further pursue his education at Romeo Academy in Romeo, Michigan. In 1846, he was accepted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. However, after two years, complications from his injury forced him to withdraw from school. He spent the next winter in Vandalia, Illinois, again supporting himself by teaching. There, he studied medicine with J. B. Hendrick. After his health improved, he returned to the university and received a Bachelor of Arts.

Upon graduation, Johnson moved to Flint, Michigan, and continued to study medicine while teaching. In October 1850, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to attend lectures at Rush Medical College. He became an understudy of Professor William B. Herrick, the brother of the Vandalia doctor. In 1851, he became the first intern at the Illinois General Hospital of the Lakes, later known as Mercy Hospital. In February 1852, he received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Rush. The same year, he was awarded a Master of Arts from the University of Michigan. Johnson joined Professor Herrick's medical practice and helped him edit the Northwestern Medical and Surgical Journal. He served on the board of trustees of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Johnson died from pneumonia at his Chicago home on February 26, 1891, and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery.