Abstract

Objectives

National protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyddemanded that Confederate statues be removed from public view as symbols of slavery and racism. A statue still stands in Richmond, Virginia, dedicated to a Confederate surgeon, Hunter Holmes McGuire (1835-1900). The Richmond, Virginia Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital bears his name. Dr. McGuire became a contemproary influential figure in American medicine, and served as the President of the American Medical Association; he was also a racist. A biogaphy of McGuire is hereby compiled to better understand his rise to prominence in the Confederate South.

Methods

Medical articles, commentaries and speeches authored by Dr. McGuire, bibliographies and contemporary newspaper columns.

Results

Dr. McGuire served as a surgeon in the Confederacy from 1861-1865 and in that rolewas credited for saving many lives. After the war, he became nationally and internationally known as a compassionate physician, gifted surgeon, teacher and educator. A third of his medical publications were devoted to advancing urologic care. He founded Richmond’sUniversity College of Medicine (which merged with the Medical College of Virginia in 1913) and later became president of the American Medical Association. Dr. McGuire was also a pro-slavery advocate his entire life, was a white supremacist, whose statue still sits behind the Virginia state capital building.

Conclusions

HunterMcGuire made significant contributions to American medicine, but his unrepentent racism and pro-slavery views and actions have tarnished his legacy.