Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

political and social life of England from
1665 to 1680."
Other prominent men bearing this
name were: Sir Adam Williamson, who
was governor of Jamaica, in St. Domingo ;
and General George Williamson, who
commanded the Royal Artillery at the
siege and capture of Louisburg, in 1758.
Edward A. Williamson, son of William
Alexander Finiston Williamson, who was
a prominent man in his day, was born in
London. When scarcely more than a boy
he entered the British navy. He was a
bright, ambitious lad, devoted to the serv-
ice. He rose step by step, discharging
every duty faithfully. He was paymaster
for years, and finally reached the rank
of captain. He commanded a number of
ships, one of them being H. M. S. "Ex-
cellent." During the course of his career
he was decorated with three medals for
distinguished gallantry in the service.
He served with honor in the bitter campaign
of the Crimea, and was finally re-
tired some years before his death. Mr.
Williamson married Anne Young, daugh-
ter of Richard Young, who was mayor of
Londonderry, and a member of an old
family there. They were the parents of
four children : Dr. Edward A., of whom
further; Anne Elizabeth, who became
Mrs. Etherington, the wife of a prominent
London banker ; Richard Edward,
who died at the age of sixteen ; and William
Alexander Finiston (2), who became
lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Army
Service Corps, during the World War,
and was killed in the battle of the Marne.
Dr. Edward A. Williamson was born in
Bedford, England, on September 10, 1864.
He struck out for himself early in life,
as his father had done, but turned his face
westward, coming to New York City,
where a cousin already resided ; that was
when he was fifteen years old. As is
often the case with boys of that age, he
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
214
entered various employments, working
for short periods, but finally determined
upon the profession of medicine as the
life-work of his choice. Being still quite
young, he secured employment in a drug
store in order to gain a more thorough
knowledge of pharmacy than is given in
the usual medical course. He spent about
two years there, taking advantage of
every opportunity to learn anything that
might be useful to him, studying in odd
hours, when other young men were at
leisure, to improve his general education,
and lay a broader foundation for his tech-
nical training. He began reading medicine
under the preceptorship of Dr. F. H.
Manley, and in due time matriculated at
Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from
which he was graduated, in 1886, with the
degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Then followed four years of hospital
practice, a much longer clinical experience
than falls to the lot of the average young
physician. During this period he covered
a breadth of practice rarely permitted to
any physician. First he entered the Gouverneur
Hospital, and after a year there
he went to the Harlem Hospital. Here
he spent six months each in the positions
of ambulance, junior, senior, and house
physician. He also spent a year in the
hospital on Blackwell's Island. This was
a wonderful preparation for general prac-
tice, particularly to a man gifted, as Dr.
Williamson is, with the capacity for absorbing
and retaining information, and
turning it to practical use when occasion
arises.
In 1894 he began private practice in
Westchester, New York, and after several
very successful years, came to Stamford,
Connecticut. He established himself at
High Ridge, where he remained until the
spring of 1919, removing then to his pres-
ent location in North Stamford. He has
established an enviable reputation in this