Dr. William Crawford Gorgas, M.D. (born October 3, 1854, in Mobile, Alabama; died July 3, 1920, in London) is best known for his work in stopping the spread of yellow fever and malaria, by stopping the mosquitoes that spread it. Originally from Alabama, Dr. Gorgas served as Surgeon General of the United States Army. He was stationed in Cuba for a time, where he learned of the research of a Cuban doctor, Carlos Finlay, who had made the connection between mosquitoes and disease transmission in 1881. In 1898 Sir Ronald Ross, an English scientist, showed that certain mosquito species transmit malaria to birds. Once Gorgas was transferred to Panama, he implemented far-reaching sanitation programs based on Finlay's research. Gorgas's work in stopping the spread of disease in the Isthmus of Panama was instrumental in the construction of the Panama Canal since it significantly prolonged the lifespans of the thousands of workers involved in the project.

William Gorgas was the first of six children of Pennsylvania-born Confederate general Josiah Gorgas and Amelia Gayle Gorgas, daughter of Alabama governor John Gayle.

In 1953 William C. Gorgas was inducted in the Alabama Hall of Fame.

American physicians | Panama Canal | People from Alabama | Malaria