VMI Archives Historical Rosters: William Riddick Whitehead

Historical Rosters Database

William Riddick Whitehead

Roster ID 446
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.

First Name:	William
Middle Name:	Riddick
Last Name:	Whitehead
Suffix:
Affiliation:	Class of 1851
Biography & Genealogy:	William Riddick Whitehead, Class of 1851: Genealogy: Born- Dec. 15, 1831 in Suffolk, Va. Father- Col. William Boykin Whitehead; Mother- Emeline F. Riddick. Married Feb. 10, 1831. Pat. Grandfather- William Whitehead; Pat. Grandmother- Mary Ann Boykin. Mat. Grandfather- Dempsey Riddick; Mat. Grandmother- unknown. Married- Elizabeth Benton (his cousin) from New York. Married in Albemarle Co. Va. Children- 1- Charles Whitehead; 2- Florence Whitehead who married Major Alair (first name unknown). VMI Record: Entered VMI- Dec. 27, 1847; Graduated July 4, 1851 standing 26th in a class of 29. Also attended University of Va. 1851-52 and University of Pa. 1853. Studied Medicine in Paris, France. Military Record: Served as Surgeon with Russian Army in the Crimean War. In American Civil War was 1st Lieut. in Provisional Army of Va. in May 25, 1861, but his unit was never organized; Appointed Surgeon of 44th Va. July 4, 1861; Assistant Division Surgeon Nov. 1862; In May 1863 was attending Surgeon in the ambulance that removed the wounded Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson from field at Chancellorsville; captured July 4, 1863 with wounded at Gettysburg; Held at Fort McHenry, Md.; Escaped Aug. 23, 1863. Careers: Professor of Clinical Medicine at New York Medical College before the Civil War; Doctor in New York, NY after the War; moved to Denver, Co. in 1872; on City Council mid-1870's; Taught medicine at the University of Denver; Chairman of Medicine and Surgery at University of Colorado Med. School 1883-85. Died- Oct. 13, 1902 in Denver, Co.

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The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.