John Latham, VII

Wikipedia Biographical Summary

John Latham (1761–1843)

John Latham (1761–1843) was a physician who bought the Bradwall estate. He became President of the Royal College of Physicians, and also updated their Pharmacopoeia.

Latham was the eldest son of the Rev. John Latham, B.A. of Oriel College, Oxford, and was born at Gawsworth in the county of Chester, Dec. 29, 1761, in the house of his great-uncle, the Rev. William Hall, then Rector of that parish. He received his early education at the Grammar School of Manchester, under Charles Lawson, A.M., Head Master, and entered Commoner of Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1778, where, having gone through the previous degrees in Arts, he was created M.B. May 3, 1786, and M.D. Oct. 10, 1788. In London, he completed his medical education under David Pitcairn at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

On 12 April 1784, he married Mary, the eldest daughter and co-heiress of the Rev. Peter Mayer, B.A. Vicar of Prestbury, in the county of Chester.

He passed the first years of his professional life at Manchester and Oxford, where in both places he was elected physician to the respective infirmaries. In 1788 he returned to London, and the next year was admitted Fellow of the College of Physicians. In a few months he was elected physician to the Middlesex Hospital, afterwards to the Magdalen, and in the year 1792, succeeded David Pitcairn at St. Bartholomew's, about which time he settled in Bedford Row, and remained there until 1808, when he moved to Harley Street. In 1790, he was appointed Physician Extraordinary to the Prince of Wales, and afterwards re-appointed to the same office in the household of George IV.

In 1801, he bought the estate at Bradwall, in Sandbach. In 1814 he was elected President of the College of Physicians, and in 1816 he founded the Medical Benevolent Society. He retired in 1829. He died on 20 April 1843 at Bradwall Hall, from complications arising from bladder stones, and is buried at St Mary's Church, Sandbach (gravestone). Two portraits of Dr. Latham have been engraved. One is in Dance's collection. The other was engraved by Robert William Sievier, from a painting by John Jackson representing Dr. Latham as President of the College of Physicians. A duplicate of this painting, executed by the same artist, is one of the portraits in the Hall of Brasenose College, Oxford.

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Latham of Bradwall', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 September 2013, 16:58 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Latham_of_Bradwall&oldid=...> [accessed 13 January 2014]

Other References

• Burke, Bernard, Sir. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed. London : Harrison 1879. Vol. II. page 929
• "John Latham", Munk's Roll, Royal College of Physicians of London