William Frederick Chambers facts for kids
William Frederick Chambers (1786–1855) was a famous British doctor. He was known for being a physician to several members of the Royal Family, including kings and queens.
Early Life and Education
William Frederick Chambers was born in India in 1786. His father, William Chambers, worked for the Honourable East India Company and was a smart scholar. When William Frederick was seven years old, in 1793, he moved to England.
He went to school at Bath grammar school and then Westminster School. After that, he earned a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied and received his first degree in 1808. He continued his studies and became a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1818.
After Cambridge, he studied medicine at important places like St. George's Hospital and in Edinburgh. He also joined the Royal College of Physicians in London, which is a very old and respected group of doctors. He became a fellow there in 1819, which means he was a full member.
A Doctor for the Royal Family
In 1816, William Frederick Chambers became a doctor at St. George's Hospital. Even though he was the youngest person applying, he got the job! He worked there until 1839 and even gave lectures about medicine.
At first, his private medical practice was small. But over time, he became very popular. He started earning a lot of money and became the main doctor for many wealthy and important people in London.
Because he was so good at his job, he was asked to be a doctor for the Royal Family.
- In 1836, he became a doctor for Queen Adelaide.
- In 1837, he became a doctor for King William IV.
- Later that year, he became a doctor for Queen Victoria.
- He also became a doctor for the Duchess of Kent in 1839.
He was even given a special honor called KCH by Ernest, the King of Hanover.
Later Years and Legacy
William Frederick Chambers was one of London's top doctors until 1848. Around that time, his health started to get worse. Years earlier, in 1834, he had gotten a poisoned wound during a medical examination after someone had died. He never fully recovered from it. Because of his health, he had to stop working as a doctor.
He moved to his home in Hampshire, where he passed away in 1855 from a condition called paralysis.
What made him such a successful doctor? He was very good at understanding his patients' problems. He always took detailed notes about each case. This helped him to clearly see all the facts and decide on the best treatment. His careful way of working led to him making good decisions and being very successful in helping people.
In 1828, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very important group for scientists. He also wrote some articles about cholera, a serious illness, which were published in a medical journal called The Lancet.
He married Mary Mackinen Fraser in 1821. His many notes and records from his time at St. George's Hospital are now kept in a library, showing how thorough he was.
