Bedford, Nathaniel (b 1757) - AIM25

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0114 MS0002

Title

Bedford, Nathaniel (b 1757)

Date(s)

1781-1783 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 volume

Context area

Name of creator

Bedford, Nathaniel, fl 1781-1783, naval surgeon

Biographical history

Nathaniel Bedford was born in 1757. In 1776 he served a years apprenticeship under John Gunning at St George's hospital. He qualified under the auspices of the Company of Surgeons as Second Mate, First Rate, March 5 1778 and as Surgeon, 5th Rate on April 19 1781. In December 1781 Bedford, joined the 'Formidable' as Surgeon. It was docked at Portsmouth and left in January 1782 sailing for the West Indies. Bedford was appointed Surgeon to the 'Ardent' in June 1782, soon after that he joined the 'Conqueror' in Barbados and sailed with it to New York and Boston and then back to Barbados. In December 1782 the ship sailed to Antigua and Guadeloupe and then to English Harbour returning to England in July 1783. The rest of Bedford's life and career is not known.

Repository

Royal College of Surgeons of England

Archival history

Presented by Robert Rutson James to the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1933. The donation was noted in the Library donation registers on 4th May 1933. James attributed the volume to Bedford.
GB 0114 MS0002 1781-1783 FONDS 1 volume Bedford, Nathaniel, fl 1781-1783, naval surgeon
Nathaniel Bedford was born in 1757. In 1776 he served a years apprenticeship under John Gunning at St George's hospital. He qualified under the auspices of the Company of Surgeons as Second Mate, First Rate, March 5 1778 and as Surgeon, 5th Rate on April 19 1781. In December 1781 Bedford, joined the 'Formidable' as Surgeon. It was docked at Portsmouth and left in January 1782 sailing for the West Indies. Bedford was appointed Surgeon to the 'Ardent' in June 1782, soon after that he joined the 'Conqueror' in Barbados and sailed with it to New York and Boston and then back to Barbados. In December 1782 the ship sailed to Antigua and Guadeloupe and then to English Harbour returning to England in July 1783. The rest of Bedford's life and career is not known.

Presented by Robert Rutson James to the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1933. The donation was noted in the Library donation registers on 4th May 1933. James attributed the volume to Bedford.

Presented by R R James to library of Royal College of Surgeons in 1933

This collection contains a single manuscript volume, the 'Naval Surgeons Casebook'. The volume begins with details of cases, symptoms and cures of Nathaniel Bedford's patients at St George's hospital during 1781. The rest of the volume contains descriptions of cases, sickness, and treatments during his travels whilst a ship's surgeon in the West Indies during 1781-1783.

None expected

Chronological

Access available on application to the Deputy Librarian. Please contact Tina Craig.

No photocopying permitted
English
Bound volume, vellum, worm holes on spine

A Naval Surgeon's Log, 1781-1783 by R R James [Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service Oct 1933]

The author's name is not written anywhere on the volume but only one pupil at St George's Hospital at this time went on to qualify as a naval surgeon. The warrant of Bedford joining the 'Ardent' is still in existence at The National Archives.
Taken from AIM25 description prepared by Claire Jackson, Archivist, RCSENG. September 2000. Updated and transferred by Beth McNeice, Project Archivist, August 2003. National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000. September 2000. Transport Vehicles Ships Nutritional diseases Scurvy Social stratification Social class Working class Vitamin deficiencies Health services Patients Pathology Diseases Nutritional and metabolic diseases State security Armed forces Naval personnel People People by occupation Personnel Medical profession Medical personnel Physicians Life cycle Death Research work Experiments Climatology Weather Therapy Medical treatment Organizations Military organizations Medical sciences Surgery Surgeons Health International relations Oceanography Social sciences Social welfare Bedford , Nathaniel , fl 1781-1783 , naval surgeon Formidable , ship St George's Hospital , London Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean West Indies

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Presented by R R James to library of Royal College of Surgeons in 1933

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This collection contains a single manuscript volume, the 'Naval Surgeons Casebook'. The volume begins with details of cases, symptoms and cures of Nathaniel Bedford's patients at St George's hospital during 1781. The rest of the volume contains descriptions of cases, sickness, and treatments during his travels whilst a ship's surgeon in the West Indies during 1781-1783.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

None expected

System of arrangement

Chronological

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access available on application to the Deputy Librarian. Please contact Tina Craig.

Conditions governing reproduction

No photocopying permitted

Language of material

English

Script of material

Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

The author's name is not written anywhere on the volume but only one pupil at St George's Hospital at this time went on to qualify as a naval surgeon. The warrant of Bedford joining the 'Ardent' is still in existence at The National Archives.

Notes area

Note