MICHEL, William Middleton, physician, born in Charleston, South Carolina, 22 January, 1822. He was educated in his native city and in Paris, France, and was graduated at the Medical college of South Carolina in 1847. In 1848 he founded at Charleston the Summer medical institute, which he conducted till 1861. He was editor of the "Confederate States Medical and Surgical Journal" in 1863-'4, has been president of the State medical society, and now (1888) holds the chair of physiology and histology in South Carolina medical college. Dr. Michel is a member of various medical societies in the United States and abroad, and has contributed largely to the literature of his profession, and has made several valuable discoveries in embryology. He also theoretically predicted the functions of the rod and cone layer of the retina before they were demonstrated in Germany. He has made researches on the "Development of the Opossum," his report of which to the American association for the advancement of science led to a discussion between him and Louis Agassiz.