Samuel Daniel Broughton facts for kids

Samuel Daniel Broughton (1787–1837) was an English army surgeon. He was a doctor who worked with the army, helping soldiers stay healthy and recover from injuries. He served in important wars and later became a respected scientist.

A Young Doctor's Life

Samuel Daniel Broughton was born in Bristol, England, in July 1787. His father, Reverend Thomas Broughton, was a church leader in Bristol. Samuel went to the Bristol Grammar School, where he was taught by Samuel Seyer, who wrote books about Bristol's history.

After his schooling, Samuel studied medicine at St George's Hospital. This was a big step towards becoming a doctor.

Joining the Army

In 1812, Samuel became an assistant-surgeon for the 2nd Life Guards, a famous army regiment. Soon after, he was given a special temporary role as an additional surgeon. This meant he was put in charge of the medical care for the soldiers in his regiment who were sent to fight abroad.

He traveled with his regiment through Portugal, Spain, and France during a big war that lasted until 1814. He was also with his regiment at the famous Battle of Waterloo in 1815. This battle was a very important event in history.

Life in London and Scientific Work

In 1821, Samuel became the main surgeon for his regiment. He lived in London and spent his time studying medicine and science. He was very dedicated to his work.

Because of his important scientific studies, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1830. This is a very old and respected group of scientists. He also became a Fellow of the Geological Society, which is a group that studies the Earth.

His Final Years

In 1836, Samuel had an accident where he hurt his leg. The injury became very serious, and doctors decided he needed an operation. A famous surgeon named Robert Liston performed the surgery. Sadly, Samuel died ten days later, on August 20, 1837, at the Regent's Park barracks. He was buried in Kensal Green cemetery.

Samuel's Writings

Samuel Daniel Broughton wrote about his experiences as an army surgeon. He published a book called Letters from Portugal, Spain, and France in 1812, 1813, and 1814. This book shared his stories from the war, from Lisbon to Boulogne.

He also wrote many scientific papers, mostly about how the human body works. These papers were published in different science journals. Samuel also gave lectures on forensic medicine, which is about using medical knowledge to help solve crimes, and toxicology, which is the study of poisons.