Henry Palmer (surgeon)

For the 19th century Wisconsin legislator, see Henry L. Palmer. For others of the same name, see Henry Palmer (disambiguation).

Henry Palmer M.D.
Surgeon General of Wisconsin
In office January 14, 1880 – January 5, 1891
Governor	William E. Smith Jeremiah McLain Rusk William D. Hoard
Preceded by	Erastus B. Wolcott
Succeeded by	Nicholas Senn
12th Mayor of Janesville, Wisconsin
In office April 1866 – April 1868
Preceded by	John Mitchell
Succeeded by	Alfred A. Jackson
Personal details
Born	(1827-07-30)July 30, 1827 New Hartford, New York, U.S.
Died	June 15, 1895(1895-06-15) (aged 67) Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery, Janesville, Wisconsin
Spouse	Edna Almira Hoyt (died 1910)
Children	Clara Leclair (Felton) (b. 1855; died 1883) William Henry Palmer (b. 1860; died 1939) Eloise (Mouat) (b. 1872; died 1945)
Alma mater	Albany Medical College
Occupation	Physician, surgeon
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Surgeon Brevet Lt. Colonel, USV
Unit	7th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Henry Palmer (July 30, 1827 – June 15, 1895) was an American physician and educator. He served as a Union Army surgeon in the American Civil War, and later became Surgeon General of the state of Wisconsin. He was also the 12th mayor of Janesville, Wisconsin, and was professor of surgery at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago.

Early life

Palmer was born in New Hartford, New York, in 1827. He graduated from Albany Medical College in 1854. Shortly after graduating, Palmer traveled to Europe for vacation and ended up volunteering as a surgeon in the Crimean War. In 1856, Palmer moved to Janesville, Wisconsin.

Military career

Palmer joined the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1861. The following year, he was named Brigadier Surgeon of U.S. Volunteers and remained in the position until the conclusion of the Civil War. Additionally, he was chief surgeon at York U.S. Army Hospital.

Post-war

Palmer would spend time as a member of the faculty at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. From 1880 to 1890, he was Surgeon General of Wisconsin. Palmer was twice Mayor of Janesville. He died in 1895.