Giulio Borgarucci facts for kids
Giulio Borgarucci was an Italian doctor who lived from about 1564 to 1579, and passed away around 1581. He moved to England and became a doctor for the royal family.
Early Life and Medical Career
Giulio Borgarucci was one of four sons of Carlo Borgarucci. His brothers were also quite talented. For example, his brother Prospero became a professor of anatomy at the University of Padua in Italy.
Giulio himself was a doctor. He came to England because he was a Protestant refugee. This meant he had to leave his home country due to his religious beliefs. He joined an Italian church in London for people like him.
Treating the Plague
In 1563, a terrible sickness called the plague spread through London. Giulio Borgarucci helped treat people during this time. One method he used was called bleeding, which was a common treatment back then.
His brother Prospero also visited London during the plague. Giulio taught him about a special ball, called a pomo. This ball was made of sweet-smelling plants. People would hold it to their nose, believing its scent would protect them from bad air.
Becoming a Royal Doctor
Giulio Borgarucci became a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a group for important doctors. On July 2, 1572, he earned his MD degree from the University of Cambridge. He also worked as a doctor for a powerful nobleman, the Earl of Leicester.
On September 21, 1573, Giulio Borgarucci was officially named the doctor for the royal household. This was a job for life, and he received an annual payment of 50 pounds. His last known record is a letter from 1579 to Lord Burghley, a very important government official. Giulio asked for a special lease from the Crown for a property in Middlewich, Cheshire.
Giulio Borgarucci is thought to have passed away around 1581. Another doctor named Roderigo Lopez took over his role as the court physician.
Personal Life
Giulio Borgarucci was married. In 1573, he wrote to Lord Burghley about a personal matter involving his wife. The situation was looked into by a special group of people. After several years, it seems Giulio was able to resolve the issue.
He also wrote a short letter that was included in a medical book called The Historie of Man, written by John Banister in 1578.
