William Long (surgeon) facts for kids
William Long (born June 16, 1747 – died March 24, 1818) was an English surgeon. He was a very respected doctor and a member of important groups like the Royal Society.
William was born in Salisbury, England. He was the youngest of ten children. For 33 years, from 1784 to 1807, he worked as a surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. This was a big and important hospital. In 1800, he became the leader, or Master, of the Royal College of Surgeons. He also helped fund their new library and was one of their first examiners. He wrote several medical papers, including one about "The Effects of Cancer."
Friends and Interests
William Long lived in London and became good friends with many famous people. These included the painter George Romney, the sculptor John Flaxman, and writers like William Hayley and William Blake. They were all part of a group called the Unincreasable Club. George Romney even painted William Long's portrait, which was the first portrait Romney ever did for his friend Hayley. William Long later bought many of Romney's paintings.
Marwell Hall
Around 1798, William Long bought a large house called Marwell Hall near Winchester. Between 1812 and 1816, he made many changes to the house, making it look like it does today. William was a very kind person. When he was at his country home, away from London, he always offered his medical advice and medicine for free to the poor people living nearby.
Later Life and Legacy
William Long and his wife, Alice, did not have any children. In his will, he left money and gifts to his nieces and nephews. After he passed away on March 24, 1818, his collection of medical specimens (like preserved body parts used for study) and surgical tools were given to the Royal College of Surgeons Museum in London. This helped future doctors learn.
Alice, William's wife, continued to live at Marwell Hall. In 1830, during a time of unrest called the Owslebury riots, a group of people came to her house. They asked Alice for money and demanded that she lower the rent for her farm tenants. This was so the farmers could pay their workers more. Many people were arrested after these riots.
William Long is buried in Salisbury Cathedral. His wife, Alice, had a monument built there to remember her "much esteemed husband." Alice died later, on September 18, 1840, and also left many gifts to charities.
