SIERRA SACRAMENTO VALLEY |
PIONEER PHYSICIANS
William W. Light , MD (1819-1895)
Dr. Light was one of the first dentists to practice in Sacramento. He was also a chemist and a physician. He served as surgeon for the Mexican Army which defeated Maximilian in the battle of Puebla of May 5, 1862. His adventures in gold mining would make a good movie.
Born on a farm near Bethel, Ohio, Dr. Light was a classmate and long-time friend of Ulysses S. Grant who lived nearby. At eighteen he began the study medicine in Cincinnati while operating a chemical laboratory with his brother. Three years later he studied dentistry in association with Dr. Leggett, the most prominent Cincinnati dentist of his time.
In 1849 he set out for California by way of Panama where he joined a long line of gold seekers waiting for a ship to bring them to San Francisco. After several months he and 361 passengers boarded the Humbolt, a barely seaworthy old whaling ship. For 102 days passengers ate jerked beef and hardtack, and drank contaminated water from old whale oil barrels. Dr. Light spent most of his time taking care of the sick.