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John Burges was born in London in 1745. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church College, Oxford. He graduated BA in 1764, MA in 1767, MB in 1770, and MD in 1774. In 1774 he became physician to St George's Hospital, London. Burges became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1775.
Burges' health was delicate and he did not attempt general practice. He lived a quiet life with his two maiden sisters in Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square. It has been said that he was `a man of strict principle, acknowledged erudition, and classical attainments, and devoted to the love of his profession' (Brande, 1855).
His chief occupations were the study and collection of materia medica, which, while his health allowed him, he pursued avidly. He received much assistance with the forming of his collection from his relative Sir James Bland Burges, sometime under-secretary in the Foreign Office. His collection was extensive and thorough, and became well known. He gave a number of gratuitous lectures, public and private, on particular scientific subjects.
At the Royal College of Physicians he was censor six times between 1776 and 1797. In 1787 he retired from the staff of St George's, whereupon Matthew Baillie succeeded him. He was named an elect at the College in 1797.
Burges died at his house in Mortimer Street, on 2 April 1807. He left his collection to Everard Augustus Brande, a former pupil and the son of a close friend, who in turn presented it to the Royal College of Physicians in 1809.