Ralph Bathurst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Bathurst
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Portrait of Bathurst, 1676, by David Loggan.
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| Born | 1620 Hothorpe, Northamptonshire, England
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| Died | 1704 (aged 83–84) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, University of Oxford |
| Occupation | Theologian, physician |
| Title | Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford |
| Term | 1673–1776 |
| Predecessor | Peter Mews |
| Successor | Henry Clerke |
Ralph Bathurst (born 1620, died 1704) was an English scholar. He was a theologian (someone who studies religion) and a physician (a doctor). He was also a member of the important The Royal Society.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ralph Bathurst was born in Hothorpe, Northamptonshire, England, in 1620. He went to school at King Henry VIII School, Coventry.
He later studied at Trinity College, Oxford, where he earned his first degree in 1638. His family had a connection to the head of the college, Ralph Kettell.
Science and Medicine in Oxford
Ralph Bathurst first planned to work for the Church of England. He became a priest in 1644. However, the English Civil War changed his plans.
He then decided to study medicine instead. He worked with another doctor named Thomas Willis. Willis even dedicated his first medical book to Bathurst in 1659.
Joining the Oxford Experimentalists
Bathurst was part of a group of smart people in Oxford. They were interested in new ideas and experiments. This group later helped start the famous The Royal Society in London.
From 1648, Bathurst met with other scientists like Willis, William Petty, and Seth Ward. In the 1650s, more people joined them. These included Christopher Wren, a famous architect, and Robert Boyle, a well-known chemist.
Medical Discoveries and Practice
Bathurst also belonged to a group of doctors who followed the ideas of William Harvey. Harvey was famous for his work on blood circulation. This group included doctors who had worked for King Charles I of England.
Bathurst worked as a doctor during the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-1654). He helped care for injured sailors. In 1654, he wrote about respiration (how we breathe). His ideas were later used by other scientists like Robert Boyle.
Later Life and Church Career
When the king returned to power in 1660, Bathurst went back to working for the church. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1663. This meant he was recognized as an important scientist.
In 1664, he became the President of Trinity College. He started new building projects there. His friend Christopher Wren helped design some of these buildings.
In 1670, he became the Dean of Wells Cathedral. From 1673 to 1676, he was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. This was a very important job at the university. A student named John Harris wrote about how exciting it was to study science at Trinity College under Bathurst.
Family Life
Ralph Bathurst was one of thirteen sons! His family, who supported the king, faced many difficulties during the English Civil War. Six of his brothers were killed in the war.
His nephew, Theodore Bathurst, was a poet. Another nephew, Ralph Bohun, was also a poet and scientist.
