Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1817-1830 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 letters
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Abernethy was born in Coleman Street, London, in 1764. He was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar school, and at the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to Charles Blicke, surgeon to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Abernethy remained at Bart's for the rest of his career, being appointed assistant surgeon in 1787, and promted to full surgeon in 1815. During the 1790s Abernethy published several papers on a variety of anatomical topics. On the strength of these contributions he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1796. Between 1814 and 1817 he served as Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons. Abernethy also offered private lectures in anatomy in a house in Bartholomew Close, near to the hospital. The governors of Bart's then built a lecture theatre within the hospital to accommodate his classes. In 1824 Thomas Wakley, editor of the newly established journal The Lancet, published Abernethy's lectures without his permission. Abernethy sought an injunction but was unsuccessful, and remained resentful about the incident. Abernethy had himself attended the lectures of John Hunter, with whom he was also personally acquainted, and after Hunter's death he professed himself to be the spokesman for Hunter's physiological and pathological views. He died in 1831.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0114 MS0216 1817-1830 Collection (fonds) 2 letters Abernethy , John , 1764-1831 , surgeon
John Abernethy was born in Coleman Street, London, in 1764. He was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar school, and at the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to Charles Blicke, surgeon to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Abernethy remained at Bart's for the rest of his career, being appointed assistant surgeon in 1787, and promted to full surgeon in 1815. During the 1790s Abernethy published several papers on a variety of anatomical topics. On the strength of these contributions he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1796. Between 1814 and 1817 he served as Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons. Abernethy also offered private lectures in anatomy in a house in Bartholomew Close, near to the hospital. The governors of Bart's then built a lecture theatre within the hospital to accommodate his classes. In 1824 Thomas Wakley, editor of the newly established journal The Lancet, published Abernethy's lectures without his permission. Abernethy sought an injunction but was unsuccessful, and remained resentful about the incident. Abernethy had himself attended the lectures of John Hunter, with whom he was also personally acquainted, and after Hunter's death he professed himself to be the spokesman for Hunter's physiological and pathological views. He died in 1831.
Donated by John Law Adam (FRCS), in 1958.
Papers of John Abernethy, 1817-1830, comprising an autograph letter from Abernethy of Bedford Row, to the Master, Governors, and Court of Assistants of the Royal College of Surgeons, 23 Jul 1817, thanking the College for his election; and an autograph letter from Abernethy of Enfield, to the President and Members of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, 1 Jul 1830, resigning his seat on the Council and on the Board of Curators.
As outlined in Scope and Content.
By written appointment only.
No photocopying permitted.
English
Additional manuscripts catalogue.
Abernethy (MS0210); Notes of lectures by Abernethy by Peter Mere Latham (MS0211); William Cooke's notes of lectures by Abernethy and others (MS0212); Notes of Abernethy's lectures by Jacob Vale Asbury (MS0213); Autograph Letter from John Abernethy to Mr Mortimer (MS0214); Autograph Letter from John Abernethy to Mr Reece (MS0215); Admittance card for Anthony Holbrow to the lectures of John Abernethy (MS0217); Notes on Surgical Lectures of Sir Everard Home and John Abernethy (MS0218); W Downes notes of John Abernethy's lectures on surgery (MS0053); Prosser-Harvey Collection containing notes of Abernethy's lectures (MS0081).
Compiled by Anya Turner.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Sep 2008 Surgery Correspondence Letter writing Abernethy , John , 1764-1831 , surgeon Royal College of Surgeons of England Medical sciences Writing Communication skills Communication process
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by John Law Adam (FRCS), in 1958.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of John Abernethy, 1817-1830, comprising an autograph letter from Abernethy of Bedford Row, to the Master, Governors, and Court of Assistants of the Royal College of Surgeons, 23 Jul 1817, thanking the College for his election; and an autograph letter from Abernethy of Enfield, to the President and Members of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, 1 Jul 1830, resigning his seat on the Council and on the Board of Curators.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As outlined in Scope and Content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By written appointment only.
Conditions governing reproduction
No photocopying permitted.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Abernethy (MS0210); Notes of lectures by Abernethy by Peter Mere Latham (MS0211); William Cooke's notes of lectures by Abernethy and others (MS0212); Notes of Abernethy's lectures by Jacob Vale Asbury (MS0213); Autograph Letter from John Abernethy to Mr Mortimer (MS0214); Autograph Letter from John Abernethy to Mr Reece (MS0215); Admittance card for Anthony Holbrow to the lectures of John Abernethy (MS0217); Notes on Surgical Lectures of Sir Everard Home and John Abernethy (MS0218); W Downes notes of John Abernethy's lectures on surgery (MS0053); Prosser-Harvey Collection containing notes of Abernethy's lectures (MS0081).
Finding aids
Additional manuscripts catalogue.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English