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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Other Subjects

Nightingale Badge - New

Nightingale Badge - New

The badge was introduced as a successor to the former Nightingale Badge. It is awarded to nurses who are deemed outstanding and who meet the definition of a ‘next generation Nightingale’, which is ...

Event, Medicine

1 memorial
Dr. Leonard Moss

Dr. Leonard Moss

Member of the ARP/Civil Defence Services - mobile first aid unit. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Dr. Leonard Moss, MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP, was born on 14 April 1904. He was a son of S...

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, station 39

London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, station 39

200 volunteer ambulance drivers and personnel served, 1939 - 1945.  The picture shows a book (available at Amazon) "At the core of the narrative lies the memories of Station Officer May Greenup who...

Group, Medicine

1 memorial
Princess Royal Nurses Home

Princess Royal Nurses Home

Foundation stone laid by The Princess Royal, 7th July 1933, in the presence of 11 "children of England". 

Building, Medicine

1 memorial
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1 memorial

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First underground passenger railway - Metropolitan

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4 memorials