Pott , Percivall , 1714-1788 , surgeon

Percivall Pott was born in London, in 1714. He was educated at a private school in Darenth, Kent. He became apprenticed to Edward Nourse in 1729, preparing dissections for demonstration at Nourse's anatomy and surgery lectures. Pott built a good professional reputation, and received the freedom of the Barber-Surgeons' Company in 1736, and also passed the grand diploma examination, without actually being in attendance. Pott was appointed assistant surgeon to St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1745, and became full surgeon in 1749. He challenged some long established treatments, for example the use of hot iron cauteries. Pott and William Hunter were elected the first lecturers in anatomy to the new Surgeon's company, in 1753. Pott became a member of the court of examiners in 1763, and master of the company in 1765. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1764. He had a large practice, with patients including David Garrick, Samuel Johnson, and Thomas Gainsborough. He was made honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1786, and an honorary member of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1787. He resigned from St Bartholomew's Hospital aged 73, was made a hospital governor and continued in private practice until his death in 1788.