Samuel Elliott Hoskins facts for kids

Samuel Elliott Hoskins (born in 1799, died in 1888) was a British doctor who also became a historian. He was known for his medical research and his writings about the history of the Channel Islands.

Early Life and Education (1799-1830)

Samuel Elliott Hoskins was born on the island of Guernsey in 1799. His father, also named Samuel Hoskins, was from Honiton, England. Before moving to Guernsey, his father worked in London.

Young Samuel first studied at schools in Topsham and Exeter in England. He was originally planning to become a lawyer in Guernsey. He even started training with a lawyer named Charles de Jersey.

However, after a year, Samuel decided that law was not for him. He chose to study medicine instead. From 1818 to 1820, he attended two famous hospitals in London: Guy's Hospital and St. Thomas's Hospital.

Becoming a Doctor

Samuel Hoskins worked hard to become a doctor. In 1821, he became a licensed apothecary, which meant he could prepare and sell medicines. The next year, in 1822, he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. This allowed him to perform surgeries.

Later, in 1834, he became a special member of the Royal College of Physicians. This is a very respected group of doctors. He became a full fellow of this college in 1859.

While he was a student, Samuel met many interesting people. These included famous writers like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Charles Lamb.

After finishing his surgical training, he went back to Guernsey. He started working with his former teacher, Dr. Brock. In 1827, he spent a short time studying in Paris, France. After that, he settled permanently in the Channel Islands.

Medical Research and Discoveries

Once he was settled, Dr. Hoskins began important medical work. He created a chart that helped doctors use a stethoscope to understand lung and heart problems. This chart was very helpful and was printed again because it was so popular.

He also spent many years studying how to dissolve kidney and bladder stones inside the body. This research was very important. He shared his findings with the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists. Because of his work, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1843.

Dr. Hoskins also studied the weather and climate of Guernsey. His observations were unique at the time. In 1849, he wrote a paper about how diseases like cholera and smallpox spread. He wrote this paper for the Epidemiological Society, a group that studies how diseases affect people.

Published Works

Dr. Hoskins wrote several books and papers during his life. Here are some of his notable works:

• A Stethoscopic Chart (1830): This was his helpful guide for using a stethoscope.
• On the Chemical Discrimination of Vesical Calculi (1842): A translation of another scientist's work about kidney stones.
• Report on Cholera and Small-pox (1850): His paper about these diseases.
• Home Resorts for Invalids in the Climate of Guernsey (1852): A book about Guernsey's climate for people who were sick.
• Louis le Grand, or Fontainbleau and Versailles, a Comedy in three Acts (1852): This shows he also had a creative side and wrote plays!
• Charles the Second in the Channel Islands (1854): A two-volume history book about King Charles II's time in the Channel Islands.
• Relations de la Normandie et de la Bretagne avec les îles de la Manche pendant l'émigration (1885): A historical work he helped with.

He also wrote articles about "The Carved Oak Chests of the Channel Islands" and "The Outposts of England."

Later Life and Family

In 1859, Dr. Hoskins stopped working as a doctor. He handed his medical practice over to a partner. After retiring, he spent his time on historical research, which he loved.

Samuel Elliott Hoskins passed away on October 12, 1888, in Guernsey. He was buried in the Candie cemetery there.

In 1830, he married Harriet Rowley. She was the daughter of Thomas and Harriet Le Merchant MacCulloch. Harriet's brother, Sir Edward MacCulloch, was a important official in Guernsey. Harriet died in Guernsey in 1889. Samuel and Harriet had one son, Edgar Hoskins, who became a rector (a type of priest) in London.