Oliver Wendall Holmes Sr. - Mt. Auburn Cemetery - Watertown, MA - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

In Watertown, within the Mt. Auburn Cemetery, is this grave for Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr.

The cemetery entrance is located off Mt. Auburn Street, near the intersection with Belmont Street. From there, go to the Stone Chapel ahead where there is a visitor desk where you can buy ($1) a map that shows the locations of notable graves. The grave is to the south of Halcyon Pond, just to the east of Fountain Ave.

The grave stone is located on a small rise above the road. There is a short stairway to the top. The stone is a white marble on a granite base. It is a simple white tablet with the following text on the face toward the road:

"Oliver Wendall Holmes
Born August 29, 1809
Died October 7, 1894
---
Amelia Lee Jackson
wife of
Oliver Wendall Holmes
May 22, 1818
Feb. 6, 1888"

Oliver Wendall Holmes made contributions in several areas throughout his life. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to minister Abiel Holmes and Sarah Wendell. He was educated at Philips Academy and in Andover, MA, and then Harvard College. He studied law and medicine as an undergraduate, then attempted law school.

He became disillusioned with the subject and began to write poetry. Several became well known. In 1830, after reading in the Boston Advertiser that the USS Constitution - a member of the first fleet of frigates commissioned by the new nation of the United States of America - was destined to be scrapped, he was inspired to write the poem, "Old Ironsides," about the ship. It was published in the Boston Advertiser and other papers in the northeast. The poem became well read and was the drive to save the ship that is still with us today. Another poem, "The Last Leaf," based on a man he knew, was acclaimed by such notables as Edgar Allen Poe and Abraham Lincoln.

Holmes contributed many articles to the Atlantic Monthly, who is also credited with the magazine's name. Many of these articles are collectively called the "Breakfast Table Talks." These articles helped to secure the magazine's future, which is also still existing, today.

Holmes also made contributions in medicine, much of it through through writing but also through teaching. Holmes coined the word "anaesthesia" in a letter he wrote to Charles Morton, a physician who demonstrated the use of ether in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also wrote articles on the idea of a 'contagious fever' where people could pass on disease - before germs were known. He also wrote an article against homeopathic practices.

And, to top it off, he invented a design for looking at stereoscopic images known as the "American stereoscope." This design was far superior to other designs. He never patented the design.

Description: Oliver Wendall Holmes was a poet, a writer, and a medical practitioner. One of his poems, "Old Ironsides," saved the USS Constitution from being scrapped. He gave the magazine, the Atlantic Monthly, its name, and submitted articles to it. He also was medically trained and had written about medicine, including introducing the concept of a contagious fever before the knowledge of germs, and coined the word, "anesthesia." Date of birth: 05/22/1818 Date of death: 10/07/1894 Area of notoriety: Medicine Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Cemetery/Daylight Hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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