Person    | Male  Born 23/5/1718  Died 30/3/1783

Dr. William Hunter

Categories: Medicine

Countries: Scotland

William Hunter was born on 23 May 1718 at Long Calderwood, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, the seventh child of John Hunter (1673-1741) and Agnes Hunter née Paul (1691-1751).

William Hunter matriculated from the University of Glasgow, attended lectures given by Alexander Munro in Edinburgh, was apprenticed to William Cullen in Hamilton and studied anatomy and surgery in Paris. He set up a school of anatomy in Great Windmill Street, London, (the site is now occupied by the Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue - the stage door is in Great Windmill Street), and helped his younger brother, John Hunter, establish his career.

Following the safe delivery of a royal baby he was appointed Physician Extraordinary to Queen Charlotte from 1764 to 1783. He opened his collection of anatomical preparations, books, coins and other artefacts to researchers. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1767 and of the Society of Antiquities in 1782.

He died, aged 64 years, on 30 March 1783 and was buried in the chancel of St James's Church, Piccadilly, London, bequeathing his collections to the University of Glasgow plus a large sum to build there a museum. The collections survive today as the nucleus of the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. His books, manuscripts and papers are held in the Hunterian Library, one of the university's special collections.

Photo credit: Royal College of Physicians, London.

Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dr. William Hunter

Commemorated ati

Dr William Hunter

London County Council This was the home and museum of Dr William Hunter, ana...

Read More

Other Subjects

S. J. Warren

S. J. Warren

Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District Metropolitan Corps, 1900-1945. Commander in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Dr Watson

Dr Watson

John H. Watson, MD, friend of Sherlock Holmes.

Fiction, Literature, Medicine, Seriously Famous

3 memorials
Dr Frederick N. Hicks

Dr Frederick N. Hicks

Long term resident of Stanmore. From HADAS "Dr Frederick Hicks is a retired GP and Vice-Chairman of the Stanmore & Harrow Historical Society." From MyLondon: "... Dr Hicks has attended St John...

Person, History, Medicine, Religion, Australia

1 memorial
Col. Sir James Cantlie, KBE, MA, MB, FRCS, RAMC (T)

Col. Sir James Cantlie, KBE, MA, MB, FRCS, RAMC (T)

Sir James Cantlie was a British physician. He was a pioneer of first aid, which in 1875 was unknown. He was also influential in the study of tropical diseases and in the debates concerning degenera...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration, China/Hong Kong, Egypt, Scotland

1 memorial
Guy's John Fry Group

Guy's John Fry Group

This is possibly the same group of Guy's alumni who gather each October for a lunch to celebrate the life and work of Doctor John Fry.

Group, Community / Clubs, History, Medicine

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Sir Robert Peel

Sir Robert Peel

Manufacturer and reformer, father of the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Mabel Pollie Groves

Mabel Pollie Groves

Survived to at least 102. 2016: Mabel caught Andrew Behan’s eye so he went searching in the archives and writes: Research shows the death of a Mabel Pollie Groves recorded in Camden in July 2004,...

Person

1 memorial
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Poet and critic. Born and brought up in Ottery St Mary, Devon. Pupil at Christ's Hospital, 1781-91, where he became friends with Charles Lamb. Died London. Buried in the chapel of Highgate School....

Person, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous

5 memorials
Neville Chamberlain - SW1

Neville Chamberlain - SW1

SW1, Eaton Square, 37

Neville Chamberlain, 1869 - 1940, Prime Minister, lived here, 1923 - 1935. London County Council

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Edward George Brown Greenoff

Edward George Brown Greenoff

From Alamy: "PC 389K Edward George Brown Greenoff was on duty outside the Silvertown munitions factory ... when a devastating fire broke out. ... The policeman remained at his post to warn others o...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial