In medicine, William Adams is credited for what is known as the Adams Arc which was described as an arc-shaped line from the lower area of the neck of the femur to the trochanter minor. However, his medical work is far greater than just sharing his name with the Adams Arc.

Born in 1820 in London, William Adams shared the legacy of medicine with his father who was a surgeon. He went to King's College and would go on to work in pathology at St. Thomas Hospital. In 1854, he became the associate professor of surgery at the Grosvenor Olace Medical School and by 1855; he was employed as a surgeon at Great Northern.

William Adams would live to hold a very well respected name in the community of medicine. He worked with the paralyzed and epileptic patients of the National Hospital for the Paralyzed and Epileptic. He served as president and vice-president at various London medical societies and much of his work has been documented in the Transactions of the Pathological and Medical Society.

William Adams earned the Jackson Prize of the Royal College of Surgeons for his work on club-foot. His dedication to the medical profession enabled many to follow his work and elaborate on his findings. Still, he earned credit as the physician who was able to provide instrumental documentation to aide in understanding the Adams Arc more completely.