William Newton Mercer

William Newton Mercer (1790-1874) was a surgeon and civic leader in New Orleans during the nineteenth century. His residence later became the clubhouse of The Boston Club, which has been associated with the history of business and Carnival in New Orleans.

William Newton Mercer
William Newton Mercer
Personal details
Born	1790 Cecil County, Maryland, US
Died	August 16, 1874(1874-08-16) (aged 83–84) New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Spouse	Ann Eliza Farar ​ ​ (after 1823)​
Relations	Stephen Duncan(uncle)
Children	2
Education	University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Occupation	Surgeon & Planter

Early life

William was born in Cecil County, Maryland, in 1790.^[1] He studied medicine at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine under Benjamin Rush. He then served as a surgeon for United States Army during the War of 1812, stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana, then Natchez, Mississippi, before resigning there into private practice.

Career

Dr William Newton Mercer House, now The Boston Club

In Mississippi, Mercer owned four plantations in Adams County—Laurel Hill, Buckhurst, Ellis Cliffs, and Ormond—and property in Coahoma County.^[2] Mercer owned 342 slaves, and was the twelfth largest slave owner in the state.^[3] Mercer also owned property in Illinois and New Orleans.^[2] He utilized Charles P. Leverich as a factor.^[4]

He served as president of the Bank of Louisiana,^[5] trustee at Natchez Academy, and president and chairman of the Board of Administrators of the University of Louisiana.^{[citation needed]} He was a member of Christ Church Cathedral and president of St. Anna’s Asylum in New Orleans.^[6]

Philanthropy

Mercer was the President of the Board of University of Louisiana under with Secretary Albert G. Blanchard, Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court Edwin T. Merrick, Mayor of New Orleans Charles M. Waterman (politician), Admin Pierre Emile Bonford, Admin. Edmund Jean Forstall, and Admin Isadore Labatut, M.D..^[7]

Personal life

In 1823, Mercer married in Natchez, Ann Eliza Farar, daughter of Benjamin Farar and Mary Ellis, heiress of Richard Ellis, the original recipient of the Royal Spanish land grant of 20,000 ha (49,000 acres), including Ellis Cliffs, Mississippi, and Laurel Hill Plantation in Adams County, Mississippi.^[8][9] The family resided at their Laurel Hill Plantation in Adams County, where Mercer built St. Mary's Episcopal Chapel.^[10] His wife's brother's daughter, Margaret Ellis, married Stephen Duncan.

Mercer died in New Orleans at age 83.^[1]