Person    | Male  Born 1744  Died 1815

Dr John Lettsom

Categories: Medicine, Philanthropy, Race Issues

Countries: Virgin Islands

Physician, philanthropist, abolitionist and entomologist. Born British Virgin Islands into a Quaker family. Aged 6 was sent to England to be educated. Came to London in 1766 to train at St Thomas' Hospital. Founder of the Medical Society of London of which he was president on and off, 1775 - 1815.

He signed his prescriptions “I” which prompted this rhyme (of which there are some variant versions):

When patients ill, they comes to I,
I physicks, bleeds and sweats ‘em:
Sometimes they live, sometimes they die,
What’s that to I? I Lettsom.

A noted abolitionist, on the death of his father he returned to the Virgin Islands where he freed the slaves he had inherited. But later, his son, through a wealthy marriage back in the Virgin Islands, brought slaves back into the family and Lettsom inherited them shortly before he died. Thus he died with 1,000 slaves in his estate. He had some explaining to do at the pearly gates.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dr John Lettsom

Commemorated ati

Dr John Lettsom's house

{On a modern information plaque at the foot of this edifice:} Stonework from...

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Medical Society and Lettsom

Site of the Medical Society of London 1787 - 1850 gifted by a founder, John C...

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Other Subjects

New Tunbridge Wells

New Tunbridge Wells

Pleasure Gardens and Medicinal Well. Also known as Islington Spa.

Place, Commerce, Medicine

1 memorial
Dr. Ian Goodson Wickes

Dr. Ian Goodson Wickes

MA, MD, FRCP, DCH. Chief Assistant Childrens Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, 1946 - 1951. June 2009 we found this at Mike Kemble :"Ed Goodson has the following request for information: Can a...

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
Elsie Inglis

Elsie Inglis

Elsie Maud Inglis was an innovative doctor, pioneering surgeon, inspiring teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. Member of Women’s Liberal Federation and Federation of ...

Person, Gender Issues, Medicine, India, Scotland, Serbia

1 memorial
Women + Health

Women + Health

From their website: "... started in the 1980’s by a group of local women from Somers Town who had decided that they needed an informal environment in which they could learn more about their health,...

Group, Medicine, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Jerwood Medical Education Centre

Jerwood Medical Education Centre

From the picture source website: "The Jerwood Medical Education Centre was designed by Carden & Godfrey Architects to blend in with the surrounding Georgian and neo-Georgian buildings. ....The ...

Group, Education, Medicine

1 memorial