Edward Stillingfleet (physician) facts for kids

Edward Stillingfleet (born around 1660, died 1708) was an English doctor and a clergyman, which means he was also a church leader. He was known for his work in both medicine and the church during his lifetime.

Who Was Edward Stillingfleet?

Edward Stillingfleet was the oldest son of another famous Edward Stillingfleet, who was a very important church leader called the Bishop of Worcester. Young Edward followed in his father's footsteps in some ways, but also chose his own path.

Early Life and Education

Edward went to a well-known school in London called St Paul's School. After that, he went to St. John's College, Cambridge, which is a famous university. He was a special student there, receiving a scholarship called the Lady Margaret scholarship. He studied hard and earned several degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1682, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1685, and finally, a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in 1692. This meant he was fully qualified to be a doctor.

Career as a Doctor and Scholar

Edward Stillingfleet became a member of the Royal Society in 1688. This is a very old and respected group of scientists and scholars in the UK. From 1689 to 1692, he was also a professor of medicine at Gresham College, a position called the Gresham Professor of Physic.

After his time as a professor, he worked as a doctor in a town called King's Lynn. He had some disagreements with his father, the Bishop, especially when he chose to marry someone his father didn't approve of. He also had political ideas that were different from what his father or the government preferred at the time. These ideas were known as Jacobitism, which meant supporting the old royal family (the Stuarts) who had lost the throne.

Life as a Clergyman

Even with their disagreements, Edward's father helped him become a clergyman. He was given a church job as the rector of Newington Butts. A rector is like a main priest in a church parish. Later, in 1698, he swapped this job for two other church positions in Norfolk, at Wood Norton and Swanton.

Family and Legacy

Edward's father, the Bishop, passed away in 1699. He didn't leave any money to his son Edward. When Edward Stillingfleet himself died in 1708, his wife faced some financial difficulties. They had a son named Benjamin Stillingfleet, who later became a famous naturalist (someone who studies nature). They also had three daughters. The oldest daughter, Elizabeth, later married a man named John Locker. Edward's widow eventually remarried a Mr. Dunch.