Dr. William Finlayson, one of Milwaukee’s trailblazing Black doctors, has died.
Finlayson’s family announced his death on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Finlayson was the first Black obstetrician at St. Joseph’s and Mt. Sinai hospitals in Milwaukee. He delivered thousands of babies in his 50-plus-year medical career.
He also marched for civil rights alongside his friend and Morehouse College classmate, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Later in his life, Finlayson helped found the North Milwaukee State Bank, helping people of color and families with financial literacy.
“I join those mourning the passing of Dr. William Finlayson. He led an impressive and impactful life, professionally and as a community leader,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson in a statement. “Milwaukee is healthier and stronger because of Dr. Finlayson’s work. With the naming of a prominent street here, his memory is, appropriately, forever part of our city.”
Finlayson was 101 years old.
In 1991, Finlayson was honored for his work in the Medical field with a Black Excellence Award.
In 2023, the city renamed a 2.5-mile stretch of Fifth Street “Dr. William Finlayson Street.”
The family said a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
