William Thomas Green Morton was an American dentist who is credited with the first public demonstration of the use of ether as a surgical anesthetic in 1846. This event, known as the "Ether Dome" demonstration, took place at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and revolutionized the field of surgery by making it possible for patients to undergo operations without feeling pain. Morton's use of ether as an anesthetic marked a significant advancement in medical history and has had a lasting impact on surgical practices worldwide.