John Thorpe (antiquarian, 1682–1750) facts for kids
John Thorpe (1682–1750) was an English doctor, a historian who studied old things, and a member of a famous science group called the Royal Society. He was known for his work in medicine and for collecting important historical information about Kent, a county in England.
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John Thorpe's Life Story
John Thorpe was born on March 12, 1682, in Penshurst, Kent. He was the oldest son of John Thorpe and Ann Combridge. His family owned land in several towns in Kent.
Early Education and University
Young John went to Westerham grammar school. Later, in 1698, he started studying at University College, Oxford. He worked hard and earned several degrees, finally becoming a medical doctor in 1710.
Becoming a Royal Society Member
On November 30, 1705, John Thorpe was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists. At that time, he lived in London, close to his friend Richard Mead, who was also a doctor.
Life as a Doctor in Rochester
In 1715, John Thorpe moved to Rochester, Kent, where he started his medical practice. He lived near the city's cathedral and became a very busy doctor. He was known for helping many poor people in his area by giving them free medical care. He also supported other historians and scholars of his time.
His Final Years
John Thorpe passed away on November 30, 1750, in Rochester. He was buried in the church at Stockbury.
John Thorpe's Historical Works
John Thorpe loved studying the old buildings, ancient objects, and history of Kent county. He spent a lot of time collecting information.
Registrum Roffense Book
His son later published all of John Thorpe's collected notes in a book called Registrum Roffense in 1769. This book was full of important old documents, records from gravestones, and other historical facts about the area. An index for the gravestone records was made in 1885 by Frederick Arthur Crisp.
Contributions to Science
John Thorpe also helped a famous scientist, Sir Hans Sloane, with a science magazine called Philosophical Transactions. In 1704, he even published a letter in it about worms found in the heads of sheep! He also helped edit other scientific writings and collected information about Rochester bridge. Some of his letters are still kept in the Sloane collection today.
His Family
John Thorpe married a woman named Elizabeth Woodhouse. They had one son, who was also named John.
