WILLIAMSON, WALTER – Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homoeopathic Physicians and Surgeons By E. Cleave

ILLIAMSON,
WALTER, M. D., of Philadelphia, Pa., was born in Newtown, Delaware
county, Pa., January 4th, 1811. His ancestors were members of the
Society of Friends, his father being the third lineal descendant of
Daniel Williamson, who came to America with William Penn, in 1682. He
received a sound English education, and at an early age entered into
mercantile pursuits. It soon became evident, however, that trade was not
destined to engage his entire attention, for at this period, even the
study of some of the branches collateral of medicine, were his favorite
pursuits. In his twentieth year he became the private pupil of the late
William E. Horner, M. D., the distinguished Professor of Anatomy, and
was entered as a student of medicine in the University of
Pennsylvania ; from which institution he graduated in 1833. He
practiced allopathy, as he had been taught, for three years, and, in
1836, being convinced of the truth of the homœopathic law of cure –similia
similibus curantur–
he adopted that system of therapeutics. In 1839, he removed to
Philadelphia, and was soon engaged in an extensive and lucrative
practice. In 1843, he published a treatise on the homœopathic treatment
of the diseases of women and children, which has run through several
editions, and remained for -a long time a text-book, until superseded by
larger and more comprehensive works. In 1844, he assisted in the
organization of the American Institute of Homœopathy -the oldest
national medical association in the United States- and was President of
the association in 1848. He was one of the founders of the Homœopathic
Medical College of Pennsylvania, in 1848, and, for a number of years
thereafter, satisfactorily filled the responsible position of a
Professor within its halls. He assisted in educating a large number of
the present practitioners of homœopathic medicine, by all of whom he
was held in the highest esteem. He was an indefatigable worker in the
field of the Materia Medica, and made a number of additions to the list
of medicines, which are highly prized in the profession. He was a
constant contributor to the medical journals of his school, an active
member of several medical societies, and, in fact, devoted much of his
time and talents to the development and dissemination of homœopathy.
The rise, progress, and success of the homœopathic school of medical
practice in this country is largely due to the labors of Dr. Williamson,
who, by his talents and his well-known integrity, naturally wielded a
very powerful influence.

     Although originally of
unusually vigorous constitution, and a man of most exemplary habits of
life, yet incessant application to his multifarious pursuits, naturally
impaired and finally broke down his health, and he died December 19th, I
870, most sincerely mourned by an affectionate family, and a very large
circle of friends.

Source
: Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and
Surgeons By Egbert Cleave