American Medical Biographies/Gregory, Elisha Hall
Gregory, Elisha Hall (1824–1906)
Elisha Hall Gregory, of St. Louis, was born near Russellville, Kentucky, September 10, 1824, and died of heart disease at Ormond, Florida, February 11, 1906. He was president of the St. Louis Medical Society in 1863 and of the American Medical Association in 1886 and was a medical educator and surgeon of note.
Educated in the common schools of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Booneville, Missouri, he studied medicine with Dr. F. W. G. Thomas, practised several years, entered the medical department of St. Louis University, and graduated in 1849. After two more years of practice he became demonstrator of anatomy to his alma mater and in 1852 professor of anatomy, holding the position until 1867 when he became professor of surgery. When the medical department of Washington University was created he had a large share in bringing about the merger of the Missouri Medical College and the St. Louis Medical College that went to form the new medical department. As a teacher of both anatomy and surgery he was preeminent, in the opinion of his pupils. He was at one time president of the Missouri state board of health and was president of the state medical society. For fifty years he was surgeon in chief to the Sisters and Mullanphy hospitals, there controlling a large amount of surgical material. His personality endeared him to all. A manly man, he knew and maintained his rights while at the same time regardful of the rights of others.