Person    | Male  Born 13/2/1728  Died 16/10/1793

John Hunter

Categories: Medicine

Countries: Scotland

Pioneer anatomist and surgeon. Born in East Kilbride, Scotland. He left school at the age of 13 and after an unremarkable childhood, journeyed south to London to work as a dissector for his brother William, a teacher of anatomy. He studied surgery at Chelsea and St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

He was a pupil and house surgeon at St George’s Hospital at Hyde Park Corner  from 1754 and in 1768 was appointed to the staff as a surgeon. He was a distinguished teacher and amongst his students was Edward Jenner.

His interest in surgery grew to such an extent that he formed a collection of 10,500 anatomical specimens, initially accommodated in his house in Leicester Square, now at the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1767 and has been called the founder of scientific surgery.

He collapsed and died at a meeting of St George’s Board of Governors at which he was involved in a heated discussion over the admission of students.

Londonist has mapped John Hunter's London, showing not just the memorials but all the important locations in his life. And the Library Time Machine has pictures and information about his house in Earl's Court.

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

Commemorated ati

John Hunter bust - Tooting

This is a far better sculpture than our photo shows. Two versions of this bus...

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John Hunter - Gateway

{At the top of the gateway, below the bust:} John Hunter 1728 - 1793. Founded...

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John Hunter, Leicester Square

John Hunter, 13 February 1728 - 16 October 1793, pioneer anatomist and surgeo...

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John Hunter, Lincoln's Inn Fields

{The front of the stone plinth is inscribed:} Hunter {On a plaque attached ...

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John Hunter plaque

{On the main, round plaque:} LCC John Hunter, 1728 - 1793, surgeon, lived h...

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Show all 8

Other Subjects

King George Hospital, HMSO, Stamford Street

King George Hospital, HMSO, Stamford Street

From the Survey of London and Ezitis (excellent) we learn that the five storey Cornwall House, built as warehouse for H.M. Stationery Office, was completed in the middle of WW1 and so was used unti...

Group, Medicine

1 memorial
William H. Morgan, OBE

William H. Morgan, OBE

Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, Metropolitan Corps, 1887-1923. Officer in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Dr Noel Bertram Farman

Dr Noel Bertram Farman

Physician and surgeon. He was a GP in Hampstead for 40 years and his obituary in the British Medical Journal, 7 February 1970 makes him sound a lovely doctor.

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
Insp.-Gen. Belgrave Ninnis, CVO, MD, FSA, RN

Insp.-Gen. Belgrave Ninnis, CVO, MD, FSA, RN

Chief Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District Metropolitan Corps, 1898-1911. Knight Justice in the Order of St John. Inspector-General Belgrave Ninnis was a Royal Navy surgeo...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Exploring, Medicine

1 memorial
William Marsden

William Marsden

Surgeon who founded two hospitals. 1828 established a small dispensary in Greville Street which was the first to provide free treatment even to people not sent by the benefactors of the institution...

Person, Medicine

3 memorials

Previously viewed

Walter de la Mare - Green Lane

Walter de la Mare - Green Lane

SE20, Green Lane, 46

The plaque is in the pavement between the bike stands and the decorative post.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Wandsworth Council

Wandsworth Council

London borough. Formed from the former Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth.

Group, Politics & Administration

21 memorials
George Chambers

George Chambers

Role on the lost expedition: Boy on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
G. C. Abbott

G. C. Abbott

Resident of Golders Green killed serving in WW2.

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
A. Thompson

A. Thompson

Outdoor Locomotive Department

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial