Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Mid to late 18th century (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
20 volumes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
William Hunter was born in Long Calderwood, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1718. Intended for the church, he attended the University of Glasgow from 1731-1736 where he was exposed to the philosophical teachings of Francis Hutcheson which turned him against the rigid dogmas of Presbyterian theology. An acquaintance with the physician William Cullen (1710-1790) interested him in the medical profession, and he studied with Cullen for three years. Eager to widen his experience, he went to London in 1741 where he worked as an assistant to William Smellie MD (1697-1763) and then from 1741-1742 with James Douglas, both of whom fostered his interest in obstetrics and gynaecology. Between 1741-1749 he was tutor to William George Douglas. In 1750 he was awarded an MD by the University of Glasgow. In 1749 he was appointed as a surgeon at Middlesex Hospital, England, before transferring for a brief time to the British Lying-in Hospital. He was particularly interested in obstetrics and in 1762 was called to attend Queen Charlotte on the birth of her first child. Two years later, he was appointed as Physician Extraordinary to Queen Charlotte and rapidly became the most sought after physician in London. His research, embodied in his Anatomical Description of the Human Gravid Uterus (1774) and his practical example, including the establishment of specialist training for both physicians and midwives, did much to establish obstetrics as a respectable branch of medicine for the first time, though he took a perverse pleasure in continuing to describe himself as a despised 'man-midwife'. He died in 1783.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0114 MS0204 Mid to late 18th century Collection (fonds) 20 volumes Hunter , William , 1718-1783 , anatomist and surgeon
William Hunter was born in Long Calderwood, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1718. Intended for the church, he attended the University of Glasgow from 1731-1736 where he was exposed to the philosophical teachings of Francis Hutcheson which turned him against the rigid dogmas of Presbyterian theology. An acquaintance with the physician William Cullen (1710-1790) interested him in the medical profession, and he studied with Cullen for three years. Eager to widen his experience, he went to London in 1741 where he worked as an assistant to William Smellie MD (1697-1763) and then from 1741-1742 with James Douglas, both of whom fostered his interest in obstetrics and gynaecology. Between 1741-1749 he was tutor to William George Douglas. In 1750 he was awarded an MD by the University of Glasgow. In 1749 he was appointed as a surgeon at Middlesex Hospital, England, before transferring for a brief time to the British Lying-in Hospital. He was particularly interested in obstetrics and in 1762 was called to attend Queen Charlotte on the birth of her first child. Two years later, he was appointed as Physician Extraordinary to Queen Charlotte and rapidly became the most sought after physician in London. His research, embodied in his Anatomical Description of the Human Gravid Uterus (1774) and his practical example, including the establishment of specialist training for both physicians and midwives, did much to establish obstetrics as a respectable branch of medicine for the first time, though he took a perverse pleasure in continuing to describe himself as a despised 'man-midwife'. He died in 1783.
Donated from various sources. Please see individual descriptions for details.
Papers of William Hunter, mid to late 18th century, comprising notes taken by unidentified authors, of lectures by William Hunter; and notes taken by unidentified authors, of lectures by William Hunter and William Hewson, c 1772.
As outlined in Scope and Content.
By written appointment only.
No photocopying permitted.
English
Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1928) by Victor G Plarr.
Manuscripts relating to William Hunter in the Hunter-Baillie papers (MS0014); Photographs of William Hunter's birthplace at Long Calderwood in the John Hunter papers (MS0189/4); Notes of William Hunter's lectures in the papers of John Heaviside (MS0013); Notes of William Hunter's lectures in the collection of lecture notes taken by William Allison (MS0205); Notes of William Hunter's lectures by David Saunders-Davies (MS0206); Notes of William Hunter's lectures taken by Henry Gore Clough (MS0207); and various items relating to William Hunter in the Hunter Family Album (MS0253).
The main archive repository for William Hunter manuscripts is the University of Glasgow Library. The papers in the University of Glasgow Library were originally in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.
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 Hewson , William , 1739-1774 , surgeon and anatomist Cruikshank , William Cumberland , 1745-1800 , anatomist Teaching methods Lectures (teaching method) Biology Anatomy Medical sciences Surgery Hunter , John , 1728-1793 , surgeon and anatomist Hunter , William , 1718-1783 , anatomist and surgeon
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated from various sources. Please see individual descriptions for details.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of William Hunter, mid to late 18th century, comprising notes taken by unidentified authors, of lectures by William Hunter; and notes taken by unidentified authors, of lectures by William Hunter and William Hewson, c 1772.
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
Manuscripts relating to William Hunter in the Hunter-Baillie papers (MS0014); Photographs of William Hunter's birthplace at Long Calderwood in the John Hunter papers (MS0189/4); Notes of William Hunter's lectures in the papers of John Heaviside (MS0013); Notes of William Hunter's lectures in the collection of lecture notes taken by William Allison (MS0205); Notes of William Hunter's lectures by David Saunders-Davies (MS0206); Notes of William Hunter's lectures taken by Henry Gore Clough (MS0207); and various items relating to William Hunter in the Hunter Family Album (MS0253).
Finding aids
Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1928) by Victor G Plarr.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The main archive repository for William Hunter manuscripts is the University of Glasgow Library. The papers in the University of Glasgow Library were originally in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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