American Medical Biographies/Boisliniere, Louis Charles
Boisliniere, Louis Charles (1816–1896)
Louis Charles Boisliniere was born September 2, 1816, on the island of Guadeloupe, West Indies, of one of the oldest families of the island. His father was a wealthy sugar planter and took his son to France in 1825 in order that he might have every advantage attainable. Here thirteen years were spent in scientific, classical and legal studies at the most celebrated institutions of the day. Young Boisliniere took a diploma as licentiate in law at the University of France and returned to Guadeloupe in 1839 after the death of both parents. Some months there and an extensive journey through South America made him determine to leave the West Indies entirely and settle in the United States. In 1842 he landed in New Orleans but went almost immediately to Lexington, Kentucky, where he received polite attention from Henry Clay's family to whom he had brought letters of introduction. In 1847 his attention was attracted by the advantages that seemed to be afforded to young men in St. Louis, so he went there, continued his medical studies commenced in France, and in 1848 graduated in medicine in the medical department of the St. Louis University. He immediately entered into practice. In 1853 Dr. Boisliniere took part in establishing under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity what is thought to be the first lying-in hospital and foundling asylum founded in America. In 1858 he was elected coroner of St. Louis County, the first physician who held this office. In 1865 he was elected a member of the Anthropological Society of Paris. He held the professorships of obstetrics and diseases of women and children in the St. Louis Medical College and had for a number of years a clinic for the diseases of women at the St. Louis (Sisters) Hospital. For two successive years he was president of the St. Louis Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. In 1879 he received the degree of LL. D. from the St. Louis University. He died in St. Louis January 13, 1896.