William Taussig

William Taussig

William Taussig (February 28, 1826 - July 10, 1913) was a St. Louis physician and businessperson. He managed the business affairs associated with building the Eads Bridge and its later operation.

Taussig was born in the city of Prague, the third city of the Austrian Empire, and the commercial and manufacturing center of Bohemia. He was educated at the University of Prague, and after completing the classical course, turned his attention to the study of medicine, devoting himself chiefly to chemistry. In 1847, he emigrated to the United States, and for a year was employed in New York City as an analytical chemist. Leaving New York in 1848, he came to St. Louis and soon after his arrival became connected with the drug house of Charless, Blow & Co. as chemist. To further qualify himself for the practice of medicine, he attended a course of lectures at Pope's Medical College, and then started a medical practice.

During the a cholera epidemic in 1849, he served the city as assistant physician and apothecary at quarantine. In 1851 he moved to Carondelet, then an independent city, but now part of St. Louis. There he soon built up a very extensive practice. In 1852 he was elected mayor of the city, and held that office until failing health compelled him to retire from the position, and also to give up his large medical practice.

In 1859 he became one of the judges of the St. Louis County Court, John H. Lightner, Benjamin Farrar, Robert Holmes and John H. Fisse being his associates. This court, or board, had almost absolute control of all the financial and administrative affairs of St. Louis County during the entire period of the Civil War, and on it rested the chief responsibilities of county government. Taussig and his colleagues were chosen as a reform board, their immediate predecessors having brought down upon themselves popular condemnation by their conduct of county affairs. The court inaugurated numerous reforms. In 1863, Taussig was reelected to the county court and made presiding justice, holding that position until his resignation in 1865.

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