Charles Locock facts for kids
Sir Charles Locock (born April 21, 1799 – died July 23, 1875) was a very important doctor who specialized in helping women during childbirth. This type of doctor is called an obstetrician. He was even the personal obstetrician to Queen Victoria! He is also famous for helping to discover that a medicine called potassium bromide could be used to treat epilepsy, a condition that affects the brain.
Early Life and Medical Career
Charles Locock was born in Northampton, England. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University and graduated in 1821. After becoming a licensed doctor, he opened his own practice in London. His practice focused on obstetrics, which means caring for pregnant women and helping with childbirth. It grew to be the largest of its kind in London.
In 1840, Dr. Locock became the first obstetrician to Queen Victoria. He was the doctor who helped deliver all of her children. This was a very important role! In 1842, he was recognized for his medical skills and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He also wrote an important paper in 1857 about using potassium bromide to help people with epilepsy. This was a big step forward in medicine.
Later Life and Public Service
Charles Locock married Amelia Lewis in 1826, and they had five sons. He stopped practicing medicine in 1857. After his retirement, he was given the special title of a baronet, which is an honor from the King or Queen. He also became the president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, a group for doctors.
Sir Charles Locock also got involved in politics. He served as a justice of the peace for Kent, which means he helped keep law and order in the area. In 1864, he ran for election as a Conservative candidate for the Isle of Wight, but he did not win. In the same year, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very old and respected group for scientists.
Locock's Family and Legacy
Sir Charles Locock had several sons who also achieved notable things. His oldest son, Charles Brodie Locock, became a lawyer. Another son, Sidney Locock, worked as a British diplomat in Servia (now Serbia). His fifth son, Herbert Locock, became a Colonel in the Royal Engineers, a branch of the military focused on engineering. Herbert also helped write a book called the Drainage Manual.
Sir Charles Locock's work as a doctor, especially his care for Queen Victoria and his research into epilepsy, left an important mark on medical history.
