Richard McSherry

Artist: Hallwig; oil on canvas

Richard McSherry was born at Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia) on November 21, 1817, the son of Dr. R. McSherry. He was educated at Georgetown College and attended lectures at the Universities of Maryland and Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1841.

Dr. McSherry became an Assistant Surgeon and then a Surgeon in the Florida and Mexican Wars, serving from 1841 until 1851 when he resigned and began practice at Baltimore. He was a Lecturer on Materia Medica at the University of Maryland from 1862 to 1863, and then a Professor of Materia Medica from 1863 to 1864. He also served as a Professor of Practice at the University of Maryland from 1864 to 1885. 

Dr. McSherry was a Founder and the first President of the Baltimore Academy of Medicine, whose membership was limited to physicians of ten years standing. 

He became a Vice President of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland during 1871 and 1872, and in 1882-83, he was President Medical and Chirurgical Faculty. From 1883 to 1884, Dr. McSherry served as the President of the Maryland State Board of Health. In 1884, he became the author of El Puchero or "A Mixed Dish" from Mexico, a small brochure.

He died in Baltimore on October 7, 1885.

The painting was presented to the Faculty by Dr. Samuel K. Merrick, as a gift from Dr. McSherry's sons. Remarks were made by Dr. Samuel T. Earle who was the Faculty's current president.

This painting had been lost for many years, and one day, while giving a tour of the stacks, we came upon it, leaning up against the end of a row of book-shelves. It's not a small painting, but measures 30 x 25 inches.