Max C. Starkloff

Max C. Starkloff
Dr. Max C. Starkloff, c. 1900
Dr. Max C. Starkloff, c. 1900
Health Commissioner of St. Louis
In office
1911–1933
In office
1895–1903
Preceded byGeorge Homan
Succeeded byJohn H. Simon
Personal details
Born
Maximilian Carl von Starkloff

(1858-12-30)December 30, 1858
Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 15, 1942(1942-01-15) (aged 83)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Resting placeBellefontaine Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Mollie E. (Flynn) Starkloff, (1879-before 1900)
Genevieve (Baldwin) Starkloff (c. 1903)[1]
Children4
RelativesIrma S. Rombauer, half-sister
Max Starkloff, grandson
EducationPennsylvania Military Academy
St. Louis Medical College
ProfessionPhysician, surgeon

Max Carl Starkloff (December 30, 1858 – January 15, 1942) was an American physician and the Health Commissioner for St. Louis, Missouri, from 1895 to 1903 and from 1911 to 1933. He is noted for closing all public venues and prohibiting public gatherings of more than 20 people in October 1918 during the 1918 influenza pandemic. His actions are credited as being an early instance in modern medicine of social distancing.[2][3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Marquis 1912 p. 569 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "How Public Health Policies Saved Citizens in St. Louis During the 1918 Flu Pandemic". bioMérieux Connection. October 25, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "St. Louis, Missouri and the 1918-1919 Influenza Epidemic". The American Influenza Epidemic of 1918: A Digital Encyclopedia. February 13, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2020.