Richard Huck-Saunders facts for kids

Richard Huck-Saunders was an English doctor who lived a long time ago (from 1720 to 1785). For most of his life, people knew him as Richard Huck. He was a very important physician in his time.

Richard Huck's Early Life

Richard Huck was born in Westmoreland, England, in 1720. He went to grammar school in Croughland, Cumberland. After five years of training with a surgeon in Penrith, he became a student at St Thomas's Hospital in London. There, he learned from a famous doctor named John Girle.

In 1745, Huck joined the army as a surgeon for the 25th Regiment of Foot. He was present at the Battle of Culloden, a major battle in Scotland. He served in the army until 1748, when the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the War of Austrian Succession.

After leaving the army, Huck went back to Penrith. In 1749, he earned his M.D. degree from Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland. The next year, in 1750, he became a surgeon for the 33rd Regiment of Foot. He joined his regiment in Minorca and stayed there for three years. From 1753 to 1755, he was stationed with his regiment in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he also took medical classes at the university.

Serving in the Seven Years' War

Richard Huck then traveled to America. He went with John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, who was a military leader. Lord Loudoun promoted Huck to be the army's physician. In this important role, Huck served during the Seven Years' War.

During this time, he treated John Forbes, another British army officer. Later, his medical boss, James Napier, assigned him to the army of James Abercrombie. After the British successfully captured Havana in 1762, Huck returned to England.

Travels and Treating Fevers

After his time in the army, Huck was not feeling well. He decided to travel through Europe, visiting France, Germany, and Italy. In 1763, he was in Vienna, where he visited hospitals and met other doctors like Anton de Haen.

During this period, he wrote letters to Sir John Pringle, another well-known physician. Pringle later talked about how Huck treated fevers, especially before giving patients Chinchona bark (which contains quinine, used for malaria). Huck, along with Pringle and others, also suggested bleeding as a treatment for dysentery, a severe stomach illness.

Later Life in London

Richard Huck settled in Spring Gardens, London, and started working as a physician. He became a licensed doctor with the College of Physicians of London in 1765. He also owned a part of land in Lot 53, Prince Edward Island starting in 1767.

In London, Huck became friends with other important people. These included doctors like Thomas Denman and Benjamin Rush, and also John Morgan. He even knew Benjamin Franklin, a famous American inventor and statesman, who mentioned Huck in a letter in 1773.

Huck was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1768. This was a great honor for scientists. He also became a Fellow of the College of Surgeons in 1784. He worked as a physician at Middlesex Hospital starting in 1766. Then, in 1768, he became a physician at St Thomas's Hospital, which was a very important hospital. He left his job at Middlesex Hospital to work at St Thomas's.

Huck stayed at St Thomas's Hospital until 1777. He passed away in the West Indies on July 24, 1785.

Family Life

In 1777, Richard Huck married Jane Saunders. She was the daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Saunders and had inherited a lot of money. When they married, Richard Huck added "Saunders" to his name, becoming Richard Huck-Saunders.

They had two daughters:

• Anne, who married Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville in 1796.
• Jane, who married John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland in 1800.