Charles Horace Mayo

 Born - Died

Charles Horace Mayo was an American physician.

Mayo was born on July 18th, 1865 in Rochester, Minnesota. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1888 with his M.D. He went to receive his Masters of Arts in 1904 Northwestern. He also did postgraduate work at a variety of schools.

In 1889, Mayo joined his father's private practice along with his brother. His father retired just three years later. This left Mayo, his brother and several doctors in practice together which became the beginnings of the Mayo Clinic.

During World War I, Mayo served as a colonel in the United States Army, Medical Corp. After the war he was chief consultant for Office of Surgeon General and was brigadier general in Medical Reserve.

After the war, Mayo, among other things became the surgeon to St. Mary's and Worrall hospitals. He also became the professor of surgery for the Medical School at the University of Minnesota from 1919-36.

It was also in 1919, the members of the practice Mayo's father started decided to make the clinic not-for-profit. It was the world's first "integrated group practice" and was established by the seven partners and staff.

The Mayo Clinic came to be regarded as one of the foremost medical treatment and research institutions in the world. The partners in the Clinic demanded a high level of sterility in all of the surgical theaters, beyond the standards of the time, this helped in their success as a practice. The idea of medical specialization was started by the founders of the Mayo Clinic, including Mayo himself.

The Clinic began in the Masonic Temple in Rochester, Minnesota until Mayo and his brother donated a combined $2.8 million dollars for the construction of a new facility.

Mayo retired in 1930 and passed away on May 26th, 1939 from pneumonia. One of his two sons, Joseph Graham predeceased him when his truck was struck by a train, killing Joseph and his hunting dog. Joseph and the dog were buried together.

Mayo was a member of Rochester Lodge No. 21 in Rochester, Minnesota. He was also a member of Halcyon Chapter No. 8, Royal Arch Masons and a member of Home Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar. He was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and received his 33° in 1935.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.