Ramsdale, Harry Hayter (fl. 1860)

Diary of H H Ramsdale, mainly compiled while serving at Naples with the English Brigade supporting Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1860 (ff. 4-10), and on board the Clifton, an emigrant ship bound from London to Queensland, Australia, 1861-62 (ff. 10-54, 136-143).

1859-1862

143 ff. (55-135 blank). 1 volume: 151 × 100 mm.

Christie's 16 October 1985, lot 27.

Although not medically qualified, Ramsdale had training or experience which allowed him to assume medical practice for part of the Clifton's voyage after the ship's surgeon had cut his throat. Ramsdale settled at Allora, Queensland.

Cf. Helen Woolcock, 'Medical supervision on nineteenth-century emigrant vessels: the voyage of the Clifton, 1861-62', in John Pearn, ed., Pioneer medicine in Australia (Brisbane, 1988), pp. 65-76.

Database description transcribed from Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine, 1999).