Francis Bernard (physician) facts for kids

Francis Bernard

Francis Bernard (born 1628 – died 1698) was an important English doctor. He was also an apothecary, which is like a pharmacist who prepares medicines. People knew him for his huge collection of medical books.

Francis Bernard's Life Story

Early Life and Career

Francis Bernard was born in 1628. His father was Samuel Bernard, a vicar in Croydon. For much of his early life, Francis worked as an apothecary. This meant he prepared and sold medicines. He became a full member of the Society of Apothecaries in 1653. His brother, Charles Bernard, also became a famous surgeon.

Becoming a Doctor

Francis Bernard became a doctor (M.D.) in 1678. He received a special degree called a Lambeth degree from the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sancroft. Later that same year, he also earned his M.D. from Cambridge University.

In 1687, he became a fellow of the College of Physicians of London. This was a big honor, showing he was a respected doctor. He had already been an honorary fellow for seven years before that.

Working for the King

Bernard started working at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London in 1678 as an assistant physician. He later became the official physician to King James II. This meant he was the king's personal doctor. One of his well-known patients was Robert Walpole (1650–1700).

Later Life and Death

Francis Bernard passed away on February 9, 1698. A monument was placed in St Botolph Aldersgate church by his wife to remember him.

Francis Bernard's Amazing Library

A Huge Collection of Books

Francis Bernard lived in Little Britain, London, close to St Bartholomew's Hospital. His house held a very large and famous library. He knew several languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian, besides the older scholarly languages.

His medical book collection was thought to be the biggest of its kind in England at the time. After he died, his library was sold at an auction. Many of his valuable books went to Hans Sloane, a famous collector. Some works by Giordano Bruno were also bought by John Toland from this sale. One of Bernard's patient casebooks is now part of the Sloane manuscripts collection.

Francis Bernard as an Astrologer

Casting Horoscopes

Besides being a doctor, Francis Bernard was also an astrologer. Astrologers study the positions of stars and planets to try and predict future events or understand people's personalities. Bernard would create horoscopes in the traditional way. For example, he made a horoscope for George Joyce.

He also worked with another astrologer, John Gadbury, to create a horoscope for Thomas Hobbes, a famous philosopher.

Public Opinion

Not everyone took astrology seriously. A writer named Samuel Garth even made fun of Bernard in his poem The Dispensary. Bernard was called "Horoscope" in the poem, which described a room full of globes and charts, suggesting people who paid for horoscopes were foolish.

Bernard also shared a theory with William Lilly in 1664 about how horoscopes could be used for cities. He even applied this idea to predict fires in London.

Francis Bernard's Family

Francis Bernard was married to Anne around 1654.