Butterworth, William W., M.D.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Butterworth, William Walton, M. D., of New Orleans, a distinguished practitioner actively interested in all matters for the improvement of hygiene and sanitation, and in the child welfare movement, was born June 15, 1864, at Rochdale, Lancashire, England; the son of Joseph and Catherine (Crossley) Butterworth, both natives of England, the former having been born in 1834, and the latter in 1838. The subject of this biography was reared in England, educated in public grammar schools until his 14th year, when he accompanied his parents in travels in Europe and the Latin Americas. Fleeing from an epidemic of yellow fever in Havana, Cuba, young Butterworth went to New Orleans, and has been a resident of that city for nearly 35 years. In 1889 he commenced the study of medicine, and in 1892 passed a competitive examination for the position of resident student (undergraduate) and ambulance surgeon, Charity hospital of New Orleans, serving from 1892 to 1894. In that year he graduated, with special mention, from the medical department of Tulane university. Dr. Butterworth rapidly won reputation and success in the ranks of the medical profession. He occupied at various epochs the following positions: Chief of clinic to chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine in Tulane university, 1894-1901; treasurer of the Charity Hospital Alumni society, 1896; vice-president of the Charity Hospital Alumni society, 1902-1903; councillor for the State of Louisiana Southern Medical association, 1906-1909; associate professor in diseases of children, at Tulane university, 1907-1908 (2 years) professor diseases of children since 1908; since 1912 also professor in diseases of children in Post-Graduate School of Medicine, Tulane university; director of Orleans Parish Medical society, 1907-1908; secretary-treasurer of Charity Hospital Visiting Staff association, 1909-1911; secretary of the section of diseases of children, American Medical association, 1908; member of American committee to Third International congress for the study and prevention of infant mortality, Berlin, Sept., 1911; president New Orleans Pure Milk society and chairman of milk commission, 1911-1913; 1st vice-president Mississippi Valley Medical association, 1913; president of the Child's Welfare association of New Orleans, 1913; chairman of the scientific essay committee of the Orleans Parish Medical society, 1908-1910; since 1894 visiting physician to the Charity hospital, and visiting physician to Children's Out-clinic department; visiting physician to Milliken department, Children's hospital, since 1907; chief of department of pediatrics, Touro infirmary, since Oct., 1910; member of the following medical organizations: American Pediatric society, American Statistical, Louisiana State Medical, Orleans Parish Medical societies, the American Medical, Southern Medical, Tulane Alumni, Charity Hospital Alumni associations, and others. Dr. Butterworth is a member of the Episcopal church. He has not had much time to devote himself to social pleasures or to political matters, but is a member of the Boston club. April 15, 1897, Dr. Butterworth married Miss Maud R. Campbell, daughter of William and Laura (Smith) Campbell, of New Orleans, and they have 2 children: William Walton, Jr., aged 10 years, and Maud C. B., Jr., 5 years.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 497-498. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.