Samuel Merritt

Samuel Merritt University seal

Samuel Merritt
13th Mayor of Oakland
In office November 3, 1867 – February 18, 1869
Preceded by	William Watrus Crane, Jr.
Succeeded by	John B. Felton

For other people named Samuel Merritt, see Samuel Merritt (disambiguation).

Dr. Samuel Merritt (1822–1890) was a San Francisco physician and also the 13th mayor of Oakland, California, from 1867–69.

Merritt was originally from Maine and moved to California. He bought land in what is now the city of Oakland in 1852 and moved there in 1863.

In 1867, he donated 155 acres (627,000 m²) of dammed tidal water from the headwaters of Indian Slough, which became known first as "Merritt's Lake" and later known as Lake Merritt.

He left plans for a hospital and nursing school to be built in his name after his death. In 1909, Samuel Merritt University and Merritt Hospital opened. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

External links

• Samuel Merritt from Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association
• History of Samuel Merritt College
• History of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - also photo of Dr Merritt
• Lakeside Park/Lake Merritt