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.

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:
John Hunter

Commemorated ati

John Hunter bust - Tooting

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

Read More

John Hunter - Gateway

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

Read More

John Hunter, Leicester Square

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

Read More

John Hunter, Lincoln's Inn Fields

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

Read More

John Hunter plaque

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

Read More

Show all 8

Other Subjects

5 Wishes

5 Wishes

This is a bit of a puzzle. We've found several websites with the name, either a healthcare programme or a 'living will' for people with terminal illnesses. There must have been some other group res...

Group, Friend / family, Medicine

1 memorial
Old Operating Theatre

Old Operating Theatre

It was a conversion of part of the garret of St Thomas's Church in 1822. The odd location is explained by the fact that it abutted the female surgical ward of St Thomas's. The hospital began to mov...

Place, Medicine

1 memorial
Capt. L. H. R. Claydon, Late RAMC (V)

Capt. L. H. R. Claydon, Late RAMC (V)

Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1919-1924. Serving Brother in the Order of St John.

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Sir Edward Muir

Sir Edward Muir

President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1971 - 1973. He died suddenly while in the post. Also, strangely, was Master of the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers, 1958.

Person, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Infants Hospital

Infants Hospital

From the always useful Lost Hospitals of London: "The St Francis Hospital for Infants was founded in a small house in Hampstead {6 Denning Road} in 1903 by Helen Levis, {first} wife of the industri...

Group, Children, Medicine

1 memorial