Thomas Denman (physician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr Thomas Denman
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portrait by William Skelton
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| Born | 1733 |
| Died | 1815 |
| Education | Bakewell grammar school |
| Occupation | Physician |
| Parent(s) | John |
Thomas Denman (1733–1815) was an important English doctor. He was born in Bakewell, Derbyshire, on June 27, 1733. He started his career helping doctors in the navy. Later, he became very successful in a field called midwifery. This is the medical care of women during pregnancy and childbirth.
A special way of helping with difficult births is named after him. It's called Denman's spontaneous evolution. This happens when a baby's shoulder gets stuck during birth, but then moves on its own to help the birth. Dr. Denman also helped make it common to start labor early. This was done when a mother's life was in danger if the baby was born at the usual time.
Contents
A Doctor's Journey
Early Life and Education
Thomas Denman went to Lady Manners School when he was young. In 1753, he moved to London to study medicine. He started his training at St George's Hospital.
He joined the Royal Navy as a surgeon's helper. By 1757, he became a full surgeon. He worked on a ship called HMS Edgar until 1763. After that, he left the navy.
Becoming a Midwifery Expert
After leaving the navy, Denman continued his medical studies. He learned a lot about childbirth from Dr. William Smellie. Dr. Smellie was a very skilled doctor in this area. Denman finished his medical training in 1764. He then started working as a doctor in Winchester.
He didn't have many patients there, so he went back to London. He tried to rejoin the navy but couldn't. However, he got a job as a surgeon on a royal yacht. This job didn't take him away from London often. It also gave him a steady income.
Teaching and Practice
For 15 years, Dr. Denman taught classes on midwifery. In 1769, he became a special doctor for childbirth at the Middlesex Hospital. He worked there until 1783, when his private practice became too busy. In that same year, he was officially recognized as a midwifery expert by the College of Physicians.
Later Years
By 1791, Dr. Denman had earned a lot of money. He bought a country house in Feltham, Middlesex. He never stopped working completely. Instead, he focused on giving advice to other doctors.
He was the first doctor whose ideas made it common in England to start labor early. This was done in cases where the mother's life was at risk during childbirth.
Family Life
Thomas Denman passed away in his London home on November 26, 1815. He was buried in the St. James' Church in Piccadilly. Thomas had an older brother who was also a doctor. His brother wrote a book about a place called Buxton Water. When his brother died, he left his money to Thomas's son.
Important Writings
Dr. Denman wrote several important books and papers about medicine and childbirth. These writings helped many other doctors learn and improve their skills.
- An Introduction to the Practice of Midwifery, first published in 1762. This book was so popular that it had many new versions printed even after he died.
- Aphorisms on the Application and Use of the Forceps and Vectis on Preternatural Labours, 1783. This book was translated into French and had many editions in English and America.
- He also wrote about different problems that could happen during childbirth, like bleeding or difficult births.
