Thomas Lawrence (physician) facts for kids
Thomas Lawrence (born 1711, died 1783) was an English doctor and writer. He became the leader of the Royal College of Physicians in 1767. This was a very important group for doctors in England.
A Doctor's Journey
Thomas Lawrence was born in London on May 25, 1711. His father, also named Thomas, was a captain in the navy. When Thomas was young, his family moved around a bit. He went to school in Dublin, Ireland, for a while.
Later, his family settled in Southampton, England. Thomas went to Southampton grammar school. In 1727, he started studying at Trinity College, Oxford University. He earned his first degree in 1730 and a master's degree in 1733.
Thomas decided to become a doctor. He moved to London to learn more about medicine. He studied anatomy, which is the study of the body's structure, and gained experience at St. Thomas's Hospital. He received his medical degrees from Oxford in 1736 and 1740. He also taught anatomy at the university for a time.
In 1744, Thomas became a fellow of the London College of Physicians. This meant he was a full member of this important medical group. He held many different jobs within the college. In 1767, he was chosen to be the president, and he was re-elected for seven years in a row.
Around 1773, Thomas's health started to get worse. He had problems with his heart. In 1782, he had a stroke. He then moved from London to Canterbury, where he passed away on June 6, 1783. He was buried in St. Margaret's Church, and a special plaque was placed in Canterbury Cathedral to remember him.
His Writings
Thomas Lawrence wrote several books, all in Latin. He was known for writing about medicine and also for writing biographies, which are life stories of people.
Some of his important works include:
- A book called Hydrops, which was a medical discussion.
- Prælectiones medicæ duodecim, which were twelve medical lectures about diseases of the skull and head.
- A book about the nature of muscles.
- A Life of Harvey, which was a biography of the famous doctor William Harvey. This was included in a collection of Harvey's works.
- A Life of Dr. Frank Nicholls, a biography of his anatomy teacher.
His Family
On May 25, 1744, Thomas Lawrence married Frances Chauncy in London. She was also the daughter of a doctor. They had six sons and three daughters. One of their sons, Soulden Lawrence, became a famous judge.
Thomas Lawrence was good friends with the famous writer Samuel Johnson. Johnson even wrote a special poem in Latin for Thomas when one of his sons traveled far away to the East Indies.
