Samuel Merritt
Dr. Samuel Merritt (1822–1890) was a San Francisco physician and also the 13th mayor of Oakland, California, from 1867–69.
Samuel Merritt | |
|---|---|
| 13th Mayor of Oakland | |
| In office November 3, 1867 – February 18, 1869 | |
| Preceded by | William Watrus Crane, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John B. Felton |
Merritt was originally from Maine and moved to California. He bought land in what is now the city of Oakland in 1852 and moved there in 1863.
In 1867, he donated 155 acres (627,000 m2) of dammed tidal water from the headwaters of Indian Slough, which became known first as "Merritt's Lake" and later known as Lake Merritt. Lake Merritt is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870, and has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1963, and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966.
He left plans for a hospital and nursing school to be built in his name after his death. In 1909, Samuel Merritt University and Merritt Hospital opened. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
External links
- Samuel Merritt from Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association
- History of Samuel Merritt College
- History of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - also photo of Dr Merritt
- Lakeside Park/Lake Merritt