Thomas Millington (physician) facts for kids
Sir Thomas Millington (born in Newbury in 1628 – died in Gosfield on January 5, 1704) was a very respected English doctor. He was known for his kindness and smart ideas. Famous people like Samuel Garth and Thomas Sydenham thought highly of him. He was even a member of the Royal Society, a group for important scientists.
Contents
The Life of a Famous Doctor
Early Life and Education
Thomas Millington went to school at Westminster School, which was a famous school. Then, in 1645, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied hard and earned his first degree in 1649. After that, he went to Oxford University and got a master's degree.
He became a Fellow at All Souls College in Oxford. On July 9, 1659, he officially became a doctor of medicine. Later, in 1675, he was given an important job as the Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy. He kept this job for the rest of his life.
A Respected Doctor
In 1672, Thomas Millington became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. This was a big deal for doctors in England. He held many important positions there, like Treasurer and President. He was even with King Charles II when the king passed away.
People at the College of Physicians loved him. They said he was friendly and a good friend. He worked hard and was very good at his job. He was also a great speaker. When he became President, he was serious but always polite. He always focused on what was best for the College.
He became a personal doctor to King William III and Queen Mary II. Later, he also worked for Queen Anne. In 1679, he was made a knight, so he became "Sir" Thomas Millington. He was even one of the doctors who examined King William III's body after he died.
His Big Idea About Plants
Sir Thomas Millington had a very important idea about plants. He talked with another scientist named Nehemiah Grew. Millington suggested that the stamens (the parts that look like little stalks with dusty tops) in a flower act like the male parts. He thought they were needed to make seeds.
Nehemiah Grew agreed right away! He had thought the same thing. Grew then studied this idea more deeply. He found that stamens are indeed the male parts of a plant. He also discovered that the pistils (the central part of a flower) are the female parts.
Grew published these ideas in a book called Anatomy of Plants in 1682. This book was a huge step forward in understanding how plants work. It showed how important Sir Thomas Millington's original idea was.
Life at Gosfield Hall
In 1691, Sir Thomas Millington lived at Gosfield Hall. He did a lot of work to rebuild and improve the hall. His family's special symbol, called a coat of arms, can still be seen there. It shows a black eagle with two heads on a silver shield. The family motto was "Honour the reward of virtue."
Sir Thomas married Hannah King in 1680. They had a son, Thomas, and two daughters, Anne and Mary.
Resting Place
Sir Thomas Millington was buried on January 28, 1704, in the Wentworth Chapel at Gosfield church. A special monument was made to remember him.
To honor his contributions to science, the famous scientist Linnaeus named a type of plant after him. This plant genus is called Millingtonia.
