Charles Scarborough facts for kids
Sir Charles Scarborough (born December 29, 1615 – died February 26, 1694) was an important English physician and mathematician. He was also a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country. He was known for his work in medicine and for teaching others.
Early Life and Education
Charles Scarborough was born in London in 1615. His family lived in an area called St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. He had a brother named Edmund, who became a well-known colonist in Virginia.
Scarborough went to St Paul's School in London. After that, he studied at Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge. He earned his first degree there in 1637 and a master's degree in 1640.
Later, he continued his studies at Merton College at the University of Oxford. He earned his medical degree (MD) in 1646. While at Oxford, he was a student of William Harvey, a famous doctor who discovered how blood circulates. They became very good friends.
Scarborough also taught Christopher Wren, who later became a famous architect. Wren even worked as Scarborough's assistant for a while.
Serving the Royal Family
After the English monarchy was brought back in 1660, Scarborough became a doctor to King Charles II. The King recognized his talents and made him a knight in 1669. This meant he was given the title "Sir."
Sir Charles Scarborough was with King Charles II when the King died. He then continued to serve as a physician for the next kings and queens. These included King James II and later King William III and Queen Mary II.
During the time of King James II, Sir Charles Scarborough also served in Parliament. From 1685 to 1687, he represented the area of Camelford in Cornwall. This shows he was involved in both medicine and government.
Achievements and Legacy
Sir Charles Scarborough was a very respected scholar and doctor. He was one of the first members of the Royal Society. This is a famous group of scientists in England.
He was also a member of the Royal College of Physicians. This is a professional organization for doctors. He wrote an important book about anatomy called Syllabus Musculorum. This book was used as a textbook for many years to teach about muscles.
Scarborough also worked on translating and explaining the first six books of Euclid's Elements. Euclid's Elements is a very old and important book about geometry. His work on this was published in 1705.
A famous poet named Abraham Cowley even wrote a poem about Sir Charles Scarborough. This shows how well-known and admired he was during his time.
Sir Charles Scarborough passed away in London on February 26, 1694. He was buried in Cranford, Middlesex. There is a monument to him at St Dunstan's Church, put there by his wife.
