Bust

{On a plaque attached to the front of the plinth:}
John Hunter, 1728 - 1793
Anatomist, surgeon, researcher, author, collector and teacher.

John Hunter was born in Long Calderwood near Glasgow and left school at the age of 13. He travelled to London and attended surgical classes at St George's and St Bartholomew's Hospitals. He was a pupil and house surgeon at St George’s Hospital from 1754 – 1756, and in 1768 was appointed to the staff as a surgeon. He was a distinguished teacher and amongst his students was Edward Jenner. He understood the importance of research and is quoted as advising Jenner, “Don’t think, try the experiment”. It is said he found surgery as a mechanical art and left it as an experimental science. Hunter suffered from angina pectoris and declared “My life is in the hands of any rascal that chooses to annoy or tease me”. He collapsed and died in 1793 at a meeting of St George’s Board of Governors at which he was involved in a heated discussion over the admission of students.
Sculptor: Sir Alfred Gilbert