, an eminent surgeon, was born in the island of Antigua, in 1717, on the family estate,
, an eminent surgeon, was born in
the island of Antigua, in 1717, on the family estate, which
he inherited, together with a ring, famous in history, as
the one given by queen Elizabeth to the earl of Essex, and
which in the hour of impending danger he entrusted to the
countess of Nottingham, who never delivered it to the
queen, and this, according to the story, was the cause of
Essex’s losing his life. By some means this ring had regularly descended, together with the estate, in the Warner
family. Mr. Warner was sent to England at an early age,
and educated at Westminster school. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to the celebrated surgeon, Samuel
Sharpe, and after residing seven years with him, was admitted joint lecturer in anatomy at St. Thomas’s hospital
with Mr. Sharpe, after whose resignation Mr. Warner continued the lectures for several years. In 1746, during the
rebellion in Scotland, he volunteered his professional services, and joined the royal army under the duke of Cumberland, In the course of that campaign he was recalled
to London to fill the office of surgeon to Guy’s hospital, a
situation which he held, with increasing reputation, and
great professional success, for the long period of forty-four
years. During this time his private practice became extensive, and his fame was increased by his valuable treatises
on the cataract, the hydrocele, &c. and his still more va-r
luable volume of “Cases in Surgery,
”
ersities, who understood Latin and Greek." Mr. Bedingfield, one of Dodsley’s poets, and Gataker, the surgeon, were to be concerned in this Magazine, but Moore’s death prevented
* The following paragraph from specimen of the whole. “Sect. If, He
Huggins’s pamphlet will be a sufficient (Warton) resumes the poisonous
aciinow in his thirty-sixth year, had employed fully half that
time in an unwearied perusal of the old English poets and
such contemporary writers as could throw light on their
obscurities. The
” Observations on Spenser“must have
evidently been the result of much industry and various
reading, aided by a happy memory.
In 1757, on the resignation of Mr. Hawkins of Pembroke
college, our author was elected professor of poetry, which
office, according to the usual practice, he held for ten
years. His lectures were elegant and original. The translations from the Greek anthologies, now a part of his collected poems, were first introduced in them; and his
” Dissertatio de Poesi Bucolica Graecorum,“which he afterwards enlarged and prefixed to his edition of Theocritus,
was also a part of the same course. During the publication of the
” Idler“he sent to Dr. Johnson, with whom he
had long been intimate, Nos. 33, 93, and 96 of that paper.
His biographer, however, is mistaken in supposing that he
contributed any papers to the
” Connoisseur.“His being
invited by Colman and Thornton to engage in a periodical
publication has no relation to the
” Connoisseur.“It was
Moore, the editor of the
” World,“who projected a Magazine, soon after the conclusion of that paper, and told
the two Wartons that
” he wanted a dull plodding fellow of
one of the universities, who understood Latin and Greek."
Mr. Bedingfield, one of Dodsley’s poets, and Gataker, the
surgeon, were to be concerned in this Magazine, but Moore’s
death prevented the execution of the scheme.
toes) obliged him to remove from Cambridge to London for the benefit of the advice of the celebrated surgeon, Cheselden: but this was now too late; for a bad habit of body,
About 1740, a complaint which he had long neglected, as appearing a trifle (the nail growing into one of his great toes) obliged him to remove from Cambridge to London for the benefit of the advice of the celebrated surgeon, Cheselden: but this was now too late; for a bad habit of body, contracted by too intense an application to his studies, rendered his case desperate; and after undergoing several painful operations, with exemplary patience, a mortification took place, of which he died Dec. 23. He was interred, at his own request, in one of the small chapels on the south side of the collegiate church of Windsor, where is a plain stone with his name and age, fifty -eight, inscribed on it.
ry delay, appointed Dr. Heberden and Mr. Hawkins to attend him, in addition to his own physician and surgeon; and further, ordered them to report the state of his health.
The winter now advancing, Mr. Wilkes returned to
England, previous to the opening of parliament, and resumed his labours in the “North Briton,
” which soon after
involved him in another duel with Mr. Martin, member for
Camelford, and late secretary to the treasury. In this
Wilkes received a dangerous wound in the groin; but appeared in parliament on the first day of the session, and
had risen to address the chair of the speaker on the subject
of his privilege, as a member of that house, having been
violated. It had usually been considered as the established
custom of parliament to enter upon the discussion of
breaches of privileges before all other matters, In this instance the custom was overruled, and a message from the
sovereign was conveyed to the commons, informing them,
that J. Wilkes, esq. was the author of a most seditious and
dangerous paper, and acquainting them with the measures
which had been resorted to by the servants of the crown.
The house, the proofs of the libel being entered upon, proceeded to vote, that No. 45 of the “North Britain
” was,
as it had been represented to be, a false, scandalous, and
malicious libel, &c: and it was ordered to be burnt by the
common hangman. A day having been appointed for the
hearing of Mr. Wilkes’s defence against the charge of
being the author of the libel, he thought it proper to acquaint the hoase of the incapacity occasioned by his
wound, and further time was in consequence allowed him.
The house, however, suspecting some unnecessary delay,
appointed Dr. Heberden and Mr. Hawkins to attend him,
in addition to his own physician and surgeon; and further,
ordered them to report the state of his health. Mr. Wilkes
politely rejected the offer of their visit. The house, he
said, had desired them to visit him, but had forgotten to
desire him to receive them, which he most certainly should
not. At the same time, in vindication of the professional
gentlemen whom he himself had employed, he sent for
Dr. Duncan, one of his majesty’s physicians in ordinary,
and Mr. Myddleton, one of his majesty’s serjeant-surgeons,
humorously telling them, that as the House of Commons
thought it fit that he should be watched, he himself thought
two Scotchmen most proper for his spies. About a week
after he suddenly withdrew to France; a retreat which
prudence rendered very necessary, his circumstances being
very much involved.
tive superintendence, together with that of his able and benevolent colleague, Mr. John Pearson, the surgeon to the institution, the new Dispensary speedily flourished,
In the beginning of 1782, not succeeding in practice at Darlington, Dr. Willan determined to return to London, where the Public Dispensary, in Carey-street, being opened in the commencement of 1783, chiefly accomplished by the exertions of some of his friends, he was appointed sole physician to it; and under his humane and active superintendence, together with that of his able and benevolent colleague, Mr. John Pearson, the surgeon to the institution, the new Dispensary speedily flourished, and became one of the most extensive and respectable establishments of its kind in London. In March 1785, having passed his examinations before the College of Physicians with great credit, he was admitted a licentiate of that body; on which occasion he addressed some congratulatory Greek verses to the board of censors.
, an ingenious English lady, was the daughter of a surgeon and physician in South Wales, where she was born in 1706. Her
, an ingenious English lady, was the daughter of a surgeon and physician in South Wales, where she was born in 1706. Her father, Zachariah Williams, during his residence in Wales, imagined that he had discovered, by a kind of intuitive penetration, what had escaped the rest of mankind. He fancied that he had been fortunate enough to ascertain the longitude by magnetism, and that the variations of the needle were equal, at equal distances, east and west. The idea fired his imagination; and, prompted by ambition, and the hopes of splendid recompence, he determined to leave his business and habitation for the metropolis. Miss Williams accompanied him, and they arrived in London about 1730; but the bright views which had allured him from his profession soon vanished. The rewards which he had promised himself ended in disappointment; and the ill success of his schemes may be inferred from the only recompence which his journey and imagined discovery procured. Hg was admitted a pensioner at the Charter-house. When Miss Williams first resided in London, she devoted no inconsiderable portion of her time to its various amusements. She visited every object that merited the inspection of a polished and laudably-inquisitive mind, or could attract the attention of a stranger. At a later period of life she spoke familiarly of these scenes, of which the impression was never erased, though they must, however, have soon lost their allurements. Mr. Williams did not long continue a member of the Charter-house. A dispute with the masters obliged him to remove from this asylum of age and poverty. In 1749 he published in 4to A true Narrative," &c. of the treatment he had met with. He was now exposed to severe trials, and every succeeding day increased the gloominess of his prospects. In 1740 Miss Williams lost her sight by a cataract, which prevented her, in a great measure, from assisting his distresses, and alleviating his sorrows. She still, however, felt her passion for literature equally predominant. She continued the same attention to the neatness of her dress; and, what is more extraordinaryj continued still the exercise of her needle, a branch of female accomplishment in which she had before displayed great excellence. During the lowness of her fortune she worked for herself with nearly as much dexterity and readiness as if she had not suffered a loss so irreparable. Her powers of conversation retained their former vigour. Her mind did not sink under these calamities; and the natural activity of her disposition animated her to uncommon exertions:
. Dr. Johnson still retained his regard for her, and in 17 $2? by his recommendation, Mr. Sharp, the surgeon, undertook to perform the operation on Miss Williams’s eyes,
In 1746, notwithstanding her blindness, she published
the “Life of the emperor Julian, with notes, translated
from the French of F. La Bleterie.
” In this translation
she was assisted by two female friends, whose names were
Wilkinson. This book was printed by Bowyer, in whose
life, by Nichols, we are informed, that he contributed the
advertisement, and wrote the notes, in conjunction with
Mr. Clarke and others. The work was revised by Markland and Clarke. It does not appear what pecuniary advantages Miss Williams might derive from this publication.
They were probably not very considerable, and afforded
only a temporary relief to the misfortunes of her father.
About this time, Mr. Williams, who imparted his afflictions
to all from whom he hoped consolation or assistance, told
his story to Dr. Samuel Johnson; and, among other aggravations of distress, mentioned his daughter’s blindness. He
spoke of her acquirements in such high terms, that Mrs.
Johnson, who was then living, expressed a desire of seeing
her; and accordingly she was soon afterwards brought to
the doctor’s house by her father; and Mrs. Johnson found
her possessed of such qualities as recommended her strongly
for a friend. As her own state of health, therefore, was
weak, and her husband was engaged during the greater
part of the day in his studies, she gave Miss Williams a
general invitation: a strict intimacy soon took place; but
the enjoyment of their friendship did not continue long.
Soon after its commencement, Mrs. Johnson was attended
by her new companion in an illness which terminated fatally.
Dr. Johnson still retained his regard for her, and in 17 $2?
by his recommendation, Mr. Sharp, the surgeon, undertook
to perform the operation on Miss Williams’s eyes, which is x
usual in such cases, in hopes of restoring her sight. Her
own habitation was not judged convenient for the occasion.
She was, therefore, invited to the doctor’s. The surgeon’s
skill, however, proved fruitless, as the crystalline humour
was not sufficiently inspissated for the needle to take effect.
The recovery of her sight was pronounced impossible.
Afrer this dreadful sentence, she never left the roof which
had received her during the operation. The doctor’s kindness and conversation soothed her melancholy situation:
and her society seemed to alleviate the sorrows which his
late loss had occasioned.
, a learned English divine, was the son of a reputable surgeon at Farringdon, in the county of Berks, where he was born. He
, a learned English divine, was the son of a reputable surgeon at Farringdon, in the county of Berks, where he was born. He was educated at Magdalen-college, Oxford, as a chorister and demy; proceeded M.A. in 1736, B. D. in 1747, and D. D. in 174-9. In July 1747 he was elected fellow, having been for some years before, as he was afterwards, a considerable tutor in the college. In 1761 he resigned his fellowship, on being presented by the society to the rectory of Appleton, Berkshire, at a small distance from his native place; and in the same year, June 10, he married Lucretia Townson, sister of Thomas Townson, rector of Malpas, Cheshire, who had also been fellow of Magdalen-college. She died-at Appleton, greatly esteemed and lamented, Jan. 26, 1772. Five years afterwards he married Jennett, widow of his fellowcollegian, Richard Lluellyn, B. D. and sister of the late Thomas Lewis, esq, of Frederick’s-place, London, one of the directors of the Bank of England. To the sincere and lasting regret of all who knew him, he was seized with a paralytic stroke, which proved fatal May 17, 1780, and was buried in the chancel of his own church, near the remains of his wife. His only preferment, besides the rectory of Appleton, was the curacy of Astley-chapel, near Arbury, Warwickshire, a donative given him by his esteemed friend sir Roger Newdigate, bart.
to go to Berlin, and put himself under the care of the celebrated Meckel. He was received into this surgeon’s house, and underwent a, successful operation. The time of
An epidemic fever, which reigned in Switzerland in
1763, 1764, and 1765, and which, in the latter year,
changed into a dysentery, produced his “Treatise on the
Dysentery,
” which gained him great reputation. This was
the last medical work that he composed, though he continued to write short treatises on occasional topics. It should
not be omitted, that his friend Dr. Tissot, by addressing
to him his own letters on the prevailing epidemic, contributed to extend his professional fame. Nor was he less
attentive to his interest, although in some efforts to serve
him he was disappointed. At length, however, the vacant
pest of physician to the king of Great Britain at Hanover,
which had been offered to Dr. Tissot, was, by his interest,
procured for Zimmermann; and being accepted, he removed to Hanover in 1768. But this new situation was far
from procuring the accession of happiness wbich was expected from it. A disorder which had commenced while
he resided at Brugg (and which appears to have been a species of hernia), constantly increased, and was
accompanied with acute pains, which sometimes rendered irksome
the execution of his duty. Besides some incidental c\r t ->
cumstances, which occasioned a number of those slight irritations he would not have felt when in health, but which
the state of his nerves now rendered insupportable, he had
the misfortune, in 1770, of losing his wifr-; a Deprivation
which affected him very sensibly. His complaint growing
worse, his friend Tissot advised him to seek the best cliirurgical assistance, and persuaded him, in 1771, to go to
Berlin, and put himself under the care of the celebrated
Meckel. He was received into this surgeon’s house, and
underwent a, successful operation. The time of his convalescence was ope of the most agreeable in his life. He
made a number of acquaintances among distinguished characters at Berlin, was presented to the king, and was honoured by him with particular notice. His reception on
his return to Hanover was equally pleasing. He now
again plunged into business, and again professional and
domestic cares brought on hypochondriacal complaints. In
1775, by way of vacation, he made a journey to Lausanne,
where his daughter was placed for education, and spent
five weeks with Dr. Tissot. As this was the first time that
these intimate friends, of twenty years standing, had seen
each other, it will be pleasing to translate some of Tissot,
his biographer’s, observations on this circumstance: “I
had, at length, the pleasure of seeing him; I shall not say
of knowing him. I found that I knew him already;‘ th’6
friend conversing reminded me every moment of the friend
writing, and perfectly resembled the portrait which I had
drawn of him. I saw the man of genius, who, with promptitude seizes an object under all its relations, and whose
imagination knows how to present it under jhe most
agreeable form. His conversation tfas instructive, brilliant, sprinkled with a number of interesting facts and
pleasant narrations, and animated by an expressive countenance. He spoke of every thing with great precision.
When medicine was our subject, as was frequently the case,
I found his principles solid, and his notions clear. When
I took him to see patients under severe indispositions, or
read to him consultations on the mOst difficult cases, T always found in him the greatest sagacity in discovering
Causes, and explaining symptoms, great justice in forming
indications, and an exquisite judgment in the choice of
remedies, of which he employed few, but all efficacious.
In fine, on every occasion, I saw the man of sincerity, rec
”titude, a,nd virtue. His stay was much shorter than I could
have wished."