Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Fisher, William Webster
FISHER, WILLIAM WEBSTER, M.D, (1798?–1874), Downing professor of medicine at Cambridge, a native of Westmoreland, was born in or about 1798. He studied in the first instance at Montpellier, where he took the degree of M.D. in 1825 (D.M.I. 'De l'inflammation considérée sous le rapport de ses indications,' 4to, Montpellier, 1825). Two years later he was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, of which his brother, the Rev. John Hutton Fisher, was then fellow and assistant-tutor. Subsequently he removed to Downing College, where he graduated as M.B. in 1834. Shortly afterwards he succeeded to a fellowship, but the Downing professorship of medicine falling vacant in 1841, Fisher was elected and resigned his fellowship. He, however, held some of the college offices. In 1841 he proceeded M.D. His lectures were well attended. He acted for many years as one of the university examiners of students in medicine, and was an ex officio member of the university board of medical studies. In addition to fulfilling the duties of his professorship, Fisher had a large practice as a physician at Cambridge. He was formerly one of the physicians to Addenbrooke's Hospital, and on his resignation was appointed consulting physician to that institution. Although for some time he had relinquished the practice of his profession, he regularly delivered courses of lectures until 1868, since which time they were read by a deputy, P. W. Latham, M.D., late fellow of Downing. Fisher was a fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, and a contributor to its 'Transactions.' He was highly esteemed in the university for his professional attainments and his conversational powers. He died at his lodge in Downing College, 4 Oct. 1874, in his seventy-sixth year.
[Brit. Med. Journ. 10 Oct. 1874, p. 481; Med. Times and Gaz. 10 Oct. 1874, p. 434, 17 Oct. 1874, p. 461; Lancet, 10 Oct. 1874, p. 533.]