Charles Collignon (surgeon) facts for kids

Charles Collignon (born January 30, 1725 – died October 1, 1785) was a British surgeon and a professor of anatomy at Cambridge University. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special honor for top scientists.

Who Was Charles Collignon?

Charles Collignon was born in 1725. His family had moved to Britain from France. He became a very important person in medicine during his time.

Early Life and Education

Charles Collignon went to Cambridge University. He studied hard and earned his M.D. degree in 1754. An M.D. is a special degree that allows someone to practice medicine.

He was also known for writing a song called University. This song is still used today for a hymn by George Herbert called "The God of Love My Shepherd Is."

A Professor of Anatomy

In 1753, Charles Collignon became the Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge. Anatomy is the study of the human body and how it is built. People said he was very thin, almost like a skeleton, which made him seem perfect for studying bones!

He had several children, but only his daughter, Catherine Collignon, lived to be an adult. She was born in 1754. Catherine later became known for translating a book called An Historical and Biographical Dictionary by Abbé Ladvocat.

His Important Writings

In 1764, Collignon published a very important book. It was called An Enquiry Into the Structure of the Human Body, Relative to Its Supposed Influence on the Morals of Mankind. This book was 67 pages long. It shared his ideas about the human body and how it might affect people's behavior. Cambridge University published this work.

Working at Addenbrooke's Hospital

In 1766, Charles Collignon started a new job. He became a doctor at Addenbrooke's Hospital. This hospital is in Cambridge.

In 1768, he received a body for his anatomy studies. It turned out to be the body of a famous writer named Laurence Sterne. Collignon recognized Sterne. He then made sure Sterne had a proper funeral, even though Sterne had died without much money.

His Legacy

Charles Collignon passed away in Cambridge in 1785. After he died, a collection of his medical writings was published. It was called The Medical Works of Charles Collignon MD.

Years later, in 1832, his daughter Catherine made a very generous gift. She gave £1000 to Addenbrooke's Hospital. This was the hospital where her father had worked for many years.