Samuel Collins (physician, born 1619) facts for kids

Samuel Collins (born 1619 – died 1670) was a British doctor and writer. He worked as the personal physician for Alexis I of Russia, who was the Tsar (ruler) of Russia, from 1659 to 1666. Collins also wrote a famous book called The Present State of Russia, which was printed in London in 1667. This book shared his observations and experiences from his time in Russia.

Life and Adventures

Samuel Collins was born in a town called Braintree, Essex in England. His father was a vicar, which is a type of church leader. Samuel went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1635. Later, he studied medicine in Padua, a city in Italy, where he earned his medical degree. In 1659, his medical degree was officially recognized by Oxford University in England.

Around 1659 or 1660, Samuel Collins was asked to work for the Russian Tsar, Aleksei Mikhailovich. The Tsar was looking for skilled Europeans to join his court. Collins accepted the offer and moved to Moscow, the capital city of Russia. He stayed there for nine years, serving as the Tsar's personal doctor.

Collins used some interesting remedies for his patients, such as deer horns, moose hoofs, and hare hair. It seems these treatments were successful! In 1666, Collins decided to leave his job in Russia. He was given great honors and a good amount of money for his service. He then returned to England.

Writing About Russia

Once back in England, Samuel Collins used his notes and memories to write his book, The Present State of Russia, in a Letter to a Friend in London. He said he wrote the book based only on what he saw and experienced, without using other books or sources. Later studies have shown that this was true.

The first English version of his book came out in 1667. It was so popular that it was printed again several times. Samuel Collins passed away on October 26, 1670, in Paris, France, while traveling. His book was later translated into French and German. The first Russian translation of his book was published in 1828, and it has been reprinted many times since then.

What Was in the Book?

Collins's book has 26 chapters. As a doctor, he wrote a lot about the weather in Russia, the natural environment, and what people ate. However, some of his descriptions of life outside of Moscow were not completely accurate. For example, he mistakenly described people from Ukraine as "Circassians," who were a different group. But he did help correct a popular myth about a "Vegetable Lamb" that was believed to grow in a place called Tartary.

Like many writers from his time, Collins included some stories that might not have been entirely true. Some of these stories were common tales in Europe, while others showed that he understood some spoken Russian words.

However, Collins also shared unique information that wasn't found in other books from that time. For example, he wrote about:

• A powerful minister named Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin.
• The competition between Dutch and English traders in Russia.
• And even details about Tsar Aleksei himself.

Some Russian critics in the 1800s thought Collins's book was too negative about Russia. His descriptions of the ethics, morals, and religion of the people in Moscow were very direct. Modern experts believe that his views were typical for a Protestant person from that time period.

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