Edward Johnson Williams
Surgeon
Edward in Uniform, circa 1897.
Edward was born in Dublin on the 22nd of October 1842 to a well to do Protestant family who claimed connections from both King Edward III and Oliver Cromwell. Edward was the eldest of four brothers and was initially a Customs House Officer based in Wales. His middle name varied, sometimes it was John, sometimes Johnson.
On the 5th of January 1886 Edward arrived in Australia - his wife and children arrived 12 months later. In 1886 he received a transfer of his formal medical qualifications as a physician, surgeon and midwife from the Royal College in Edinburgh to his address in Melbourne. Contemporary press reports of the day indicate he practised as a General Practitioner in various locations around inner Melbourne in addition to his fleet-surgeon duties. The initials V.N. were often included in his description in the press.
He died on the 24th of November 1911 in Dr Stirling’s Private Hospital in Carlton following an operation to remove a bladder stone. Despite his profession being one that usually attracts a higher income, he left a surprising small estate of £600 - this was actually challenged by one of his children as they couldn’t believe he had no property! In his will, completed just before he died, he referred to himself as a medical practitioner and registered seaman and he took on the duties of ship’s surgeon for trips to South Africa etc. in addition to his Cerberus and private practice duties.
Edward & his wife, Adelina, circa 1870s.
Details & photos provided by Candy Jackson.
Mentioned in The Argus, 8 March 1889.
Promoted to Surgeon on 12 October 1892.
Placed on Unattached List. Victorian Government Gazette, 23 August 1895
Listed in the 1905 Navy List as being on the unattached list. |