John Bishop (surgeon) facts for kids

John Bishop (born September 15, 1797 – died September 29, 1873) was an important English surgeon and medical writer. A surgeon is a doctor who performs operations. He also wrote many books and papers about medicine. He was known for his careful studies and his work on the human voice.

Early Life and Education

John Bishop was born on September 15, 1797. His family lived in Pimperne, a place in Dorsetshire, England. He was the fourth son of Samuel Bishop.

He went to a grammar school in Childe Okeford, also in Dorsetshire. He studied there for several years.

John Bishop was first expected to become a lawyer. But he changed his mind. For many years, he lived as a country gentleman.

Becoming a Surgeon

When John Bishop was about 25 years old, his cousin, John Tucker, encouraged him to study medicine. Tucker was from Bridport. Bishop first practiced medicine with his cousin there.

After this, he moved to London. He joined St. George's Hospital to continue his medical training. There, he learned from famous doctors like Sir Everard Home and Sir Charles Bell. He also attended chemistry classes at the Royal Institution.

In 1824, John Bishop earned his diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons. This meant he was officially a surgeon.

Medical Career and Achievements

John Bishop quickly became known as a very careful and skilled doctor. He worked as a senior surgeon at the Islington dispensary. He was also a surgeon at the Northern and St. Pancras dispensaries. A dispensary is like a clinic where people can get medical help.

This drawing shows the parts of the throat and mouth used for speaking. John Bishop studied how the human voice works.

In 1844, Bishop wrote an important paper. It was about the Physiology of the Human Voice. This paper was published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Soon after, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.

He also became a member of medical groups in Berlin and Madrid. The Royal Academy of Science in Paris gave him two awards. These were for his studies on the human voice and how it compares to animal voices.

John Bishop wrote several books. These included:

• On Distortions of the Human Body (about body deformities)
• On Impediments of Speech (about speech problems)
• On Hearing and Speaking Instruments (about tools for hearing and speaking)

His books were special because he studied his topics very carefully. He also used math to explain his ideas. He wrote many articles for medical journals and books like Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology.

Later Life

John Bishop was a very knowledgeable person. He knew a lot about books and science from different countries. He stayed interested in science until just a few months before he died.

He passed away on September 29, 1873. He died in Strangeways-Marshale, Dorsetshire, which was close to where he was born.