Walter Reed – Major, United States Army Medical Corps

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Born at Belroi, Virginia, September 13, 1851, he received his medical degree from the University of Virginia in 1869 and additional training at Bellvue Medical College, New York City in 1870.

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He was commisioned as Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Lieutenant, United States Army, and stationed at Fort Lowell, Arizona from 1876 to 1887. Was attending surgeon and examiner of recruits, Baltimore, Maryland, from 1890 to 1893. Was curator of the Army Medical Museum and promoted to Major, United States Army, 1893.

He was appointed chairman of a commission sent to study yellow fever among U.S. soldiers in Cuba in 1898, and proved that the disease was transmitted by mosquitos. In 1901-02 he was professor of patheology-bacteriology at Columbia Unviersity in Washington.

He died on November 22, 1902, at age 51, from a sudden case of appendicitis. The Army Medical Center in Washington is named for him. He is buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery.

His daughter, Blossom Reed (July 12, 1883-August 22, 1964), and his wife, Emilie Lawrence Reed (January 14, 1856-July 23, 1950), are buried with him.

MRS. REED, 94, WIDOW OF YELLOW FEVER FOE

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, Pennsylvania – July 123, 1950 – Mrs. Emilie Lawrence Reed, widow of Dr. Walter Reed, the conqueror of Yellow Fever, died early today at her home here.  She was 94 years old.

Born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, Mrs. Reed was one of nine children of John and Hannah Rea Lawrence.  She was married to Dr. Reed in 1876, when he was a First Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corps.

The noted bacteriologist, for whom the Army’s Walter Reed Hospital at Washington is named, was selected in 1899 to head a commission to study the caused of Yellow Fever in Cuba.  He proved the mosquito to be responsible for transmission of the disease.

Surviving Mrs. Reed are a son, Major General Walter Lawrence Reed, retired Inspector General of the Army, Washington; a daughter, Miss Blossom Reed of Blue Ridge Summit; two granddaughters, Mrs. Charles H. Royce, wife of Colonel Charles H. Royce, United States Army, at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Mrs. J. A. Monro of Singapore, Malaya; and three great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.

WAYNESBORO, Pennsylvania – August 22, 1964

WALTER REED’S DAUGHTER DIES

Mrs. Blossom Reed, daughter of Dr. Walter Reed, discovered of the cure for yellow fever, died today at Blue Ridge Summit, a small community just east of here.

Mrs. Reed, who was 81 years old, resumed her family name after a divorce.

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REED, WALTER
MAJOR US ARMY

  • DATE OF DEATH: 11/22/1902
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 3  SITE 1864
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

REED, EMILIE L W/O WALTER

  • DATE OF DEATH: 07/23/1950
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 3  SITE 1864 W.H
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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