Crown City History I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H H O T E L D E L C O R O N A D O & C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N
William L. Kneedler: U.S. Army Major and Cherished Physician By M A RY G RAC E B RAU N
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June 6, 1914
The city’s first twins were born to R.M. Whitney, editor at the San Diego Union. Twin girls arrived on a Saturday morning at 1110 Isabella Ave. Dr. Kneedler, the officiating doctor, said they were the first twins out of 840 babies he had delivered.
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illiam L. Kneedler, a native of Pennsylvania, had an illustrious career in the military and as a Coronado doctor. Born in Philadelphia on Jan. 9, 1856, he attended the University of Pennsylvania and earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1879. He served as a surgeon in the U.S. Army for more than two decades, beginning in 1883 as assistant surgeon and climbing the ranks to major brigade surgeon. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, Kneedler was the executive officer of the hospital ship Missouri. For several years, he filled the role as President William H. Taft’s personal physician,
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JUNE 2019
