Roger Grant (oculist) facts for kids
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Roger Grant (who died on April 7, 1724) was an English eye doctor who didn't have official training. He was sometimes called a "quack," which means someone who pretends to have medical skills they don't really have.
Who Was Roger Grant?
His Life and Work
Roger Grant had a tough start, losing an eye while serving as a soldier for the German emperor. After his time in the army, he decided to become an eye doctor, or "oculist," in a place called Mouse Alley in Wapping, England. This was during the time when Queen Anne ruled Great Britain.
Even though he wasn't officially trained, Roger Grant became quite successful. He was even appointed as the eye doctor for two queens and kings: Queen Anne and later King George I. He earned a lot of money from his work.
What People Thought of Him
Not everyone believed in Roger Grant's skills. In a famous newspaper called The Spectator, on July 30, 1712, he was made fun of. The article jokingly said he was "putting out eyes with great success," meaning he was actually bad at his job.
There are also old papers in the British Museum Library that talk about his supposed cures. One pamphlet from 1709, called Account of a Miraculous Cure of a Young Man in Newington, was written to show that his claims weren't true. This pamphlet said that Roger Grant was also a preacher and used to make shoes. It even mentioned that he couldn't read or write.
