Thomas Marryat facts for kids
Thomas Marryat (1730–1792) was an English doctor. He was also known for his writing about medicine and for his clever sense of humor.
Contents
Early Life and Education (1730-1760)
Thomas Marryat was born in London in 1730. His father, Zephaniah Marryat, was a minister who did not follow the main Church of England. Thomas was first educated to become a minister, just like his father.
From 1747 to 1749, Thomas was part of a poetry club that met late at night in London. Members would bring their poems. If the poems were good, they might be sent to magazines like the Gentleman's Magazine. It was at this club that the idea for the Monthly Review magazine first came up.
After a while, Thomas decided not to become a minister. He left his family in 1760.
Becoming a Doctor (1760-1774)
Thomas Marryat then went to Edinburgh to study medicine. He earned his medical degree there. For a short time, he tried to work as a doctor in London.
In 1762, he traveled around Europe to visit different medical schools. He also visited America, working as a doctor wherever he could. When he returned in 1766, he lived in Antrim and other parts of Northern Ireland for several years.
Later Career and Legacy (1774-1792)
In February 1774, Marryat moved to Shrewsbury. He finally settled in Bristol around 1785. In Bristol, he gave popular talks about how to treat illnesses. He had some success as a doctor, but his practice later slowed down. He refused help from his relatives.
Thomas Marryat passed away on May 29, 1792. He was buried in Bristol. People described him as honest and kind, especially to those who were poor. Other doctors sometimes saw him as someone who relied on practical experience rather than strict medical rules. He was known for giving very large doses of medicine to patients who couldn't pay. For a stomach illness called dysentery, he even suggested paper boiled in milk!
Medical and Other Writings
Thomas Marryat wrote several books.
Medical Books
- Medical Aphorisms, or a Compendium of Physic: This book was published in 1756 or 1757. He later changed his mind about most of the ideas in it.
- Therapeutics, or a New Practice of Physic: This was his most famous medical book. It was first published in Latin in 1758. A smaller, popular version called The Art of Healing became very well-known. By 1805, it had been printed 20 times!
Other Works
Marryat also wrote poetry. His book Sentimental Fables for the Ladies was very popular. A new edition of it came out in Bristol in 1791.
Family Life
Thomas Marryat married Sarah Davy in 1754. They had several children. One of their sons was Joseph Marryat, who became a Member of Parliament and a banker. Joseph Marryat was the father of the famous writer Frederick Marryat.
