Richard Helsham, MD

Richard Helsham (1683-1738)

• Native of Kilkenny city
• Educated at Kilkenny College before moving to Trinity College Dublin where he took a BA (1702), MA (1705), MB (1709/10) and MD (1713).
• Elected a senior fellow in the following year - later appointed as Donegal lecturer in mathematics. (1723-30).

Helsham was deeply committed to all things medical and scientific. Having initially provided a free lecture course in experimental philosophy he was later appointed to the first Erasmus Smith Chair of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at TCD (1724-1738) and the chair of Physic in 1733. Served as president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland – in 1716 and 1725.

In 1714 Helsham became the personal physician to Jonathon Swift when he returned to Ireland and two years later became President of the RCPI, a post he held for nine years. Swift, Patrick Delaney, the first Professor of Oratory and History, with Helsham formed a Tory opposition to Richard Baldwin who was the ultra-Whig Provost of Trinity.

Helsham had to resign his fellowship in 1729/30 on his marriage to Jane Putland.

Best known today for his A Course of Lectures in Natural Philosophy. This work, the first scientific book to be published by Dublin University Press, was published posthumously by Bryan Robinson (1680-1754), and became a best seller, which continued to be regularly published until 1849. Its appeal was due to the simplicity of its approach and its eschewing of any contentious matter. Helsham was content to rise above the scientific quarrels of his day, preferring to offer to his readers a study of scientific investigation made ‘entertaining and delightful’.

Helsham, one of the original Trustees of Dr Steevens’ Hospital, and a visiting physician there, did not forget Dr Steevens’ Hospital, leaving the hospital £300 in his will.

It seems that Helsham was ill for some time before his death as it is recorded he took quicksilver to try and diagnose his ailment. He left orders in his will for an autopsy to be conducted, with his body to be dissected with a view of finding the cause of death. This revealed a twisted gut and some excresences.

Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900

Richard Helsham

More Information: M.D. 1714 (Incorp. from Dublin). S. of Joshua. B. at Kilkenny. Adm. at Trinity College, Dublin, June 18, 1698; Scholar, 1700; B.A. 1702. Fellow, 1704. Incorp. at Oxford, 1712. Professor of Natural Philosophy at Dublin, 1724-38. Regius Professor of Physic, 1733-8. Died Aug. 1, 1738. Will, Dublin. (D.N.B.; Al. Dub.)

References, Sources and Further Reading

• http://dr-steevens-hospital-a-history.edwardworthlibrary.ie/doctors...
• http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/life-society/science-tec...
• http://www.jjhc.info/helshamarthursurgeon1875.htm
• Welsh, H. T. (2004), ‘Helsham, Richard (1683-1738), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford.
• Biography, Oxford University Press. O’Riordain, Turlough (2009), ‘Helsham, Richard’, Dictionary of Irish Biography (Cambridge University Press).
  • Updated from FamilySearch Family Tree by SmartCopy: Oct 14 2015, 8:49:20 UTC