George Brewer was born on 28 July 1861 in Westfield, New York, the son of physician Francis B.

He also began teaching at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He was president of the Clinical Congress of Surgeons of North America,[1] and became surgical director of the Presbyterian Hospital in 1913.

[1] In 1917 he, along with 22 other doctors and 65 nurses from the Presbyterian Base Unit of the American Red Cross, travelled to France on active duty in the First World War.

In August 1917 he was part of an American surgical team, which also included Harvey Cushing, who tried to save Lt. Edward Revere Osler, the only son of Sir William Osler, who was wounded at the 3rd Battle of Ypres.