Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Thomas Molyneux, Bt
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Memorial statue of Molyneux in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, sculpted by Louis-François Roubiliac
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| Born | 14 April 1661 |
| Died | 19 October 1733 (aged 72) |
| Relatives | Sir Thomas Molyneux (Great-grandfather) William Molyneux (brother) Sir Capel Molyneux, 3rd Baronet (son) |
| Medical career | |
| Institutions | Trinity College, Dublin |
Sir Thomas Molyneux (born April 14, 1661 – died October 19, 1733) was a very important Irish doctor. He was also a scientist and a public servant. He became the first State Physician in Ireland, which meant he was the main doctor for the government. He also served as the top doctor for the army in Ireland.
Contents
Life of a Physician and Scientist
Early Life and Family
Thomas Molyneux was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the youngest son of Samuel Molyneux. His father was the Master Gunner of Ireland. Thomas also had a famous older brother named William Molyneux. William was a well-known thinker and writer. Their family had been important in Ireland for a long time.
Education and Medical Career
Thomas went to Trinity College, Dublin to study. He earned his first medical degrees when he was 22 years old in 1683. After that, he traveled to Europe to continue his medical studies. He earned his full medical doctor (MD) degree in 1687. He was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1686. This is a group of top scientists in England.
Before 1690, Molyneux worked as a doctor in Chester, England. He returned to Ireland after a big battle called the Battle of the Boyne. In 1692, he became a Fellow of the Irish College of Physicians. He then got two very important jobs. He became the first State Physician in Ireland. This meant he was the main doctor for the government. He also became the Physician General to the Army in Ireland. This made him the top doctor for the army.
Public Service and Later Life
From 1695 to 1699, Molyneux was a member of the Irish House of Commons. This was like being a politician. He represented a place called Ratoath. He also taught medicine at Trinity College from 1717 to 1733. In 1730, he was given the special title of "Baronet." Both Thomas and his brother William were interested in philosophy. They were good friends with a famous philosopher named John Locke.
In 1694, Thomas Molyneux married Catherine Howard. They had many children, four sons and eight daughters. Two of his sons, Daniel and Capel, later became Baronets like him. Thomas Molyneux passed away in 1733 when he was 72 years old. He was buried in St. Audoen's Church in Dublin. There is also a beautiful statue of him in Armagh Cathedral. This statue was made by a famous artist named Louis-François Roubiliac.
Scientific Writings and Discoveries
Sir Thomas Molyneux wrote many scientific papers. These were published in a famous science journal called the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Here are some of his interesting works:
- Insects in Ireland: He wrote about large groups of insects that caused problems in parts of Ireland. This paper was about the Cockchafer, a type of beetle.
- Giant Deer in Ireland: He studied large horns found underground in Ireland. He figured out that a huge American deer, called a Moose, used to live there. This animal is now known as the Irish Elk.
- Giant's Causeway: He wrote about the amazing rock formations at the Giants Causeway in Ireland. This place has columns of rock that look like they were built by giants.
- Thoughts on Giants: He also wrote an essay about giants. This was based on studying a large human forehead bone that had been found.
- Ancient Music: He explored the ancient Greek and Roman lyre. This was a type of musical instrument. He also explained a difficult part of a poem by Horace, a Roman poet.
He also wrote a part of a book called A Natural History of Ireland. This part was about old Danish forts and towers found in Ireland.
