The history of St. George's Hospital / [George C. Peachey].

  • Peachey, George C. (George Charles), 1862-1935.
Date:
1910-1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The history of St. George's Hospital / [George C. Peachey]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    for them, prepare cordial waters and solicit subscriptions ; and physicians, surgeons and apothecaries to give their assistance.”1 The early meetings of the promoters appear to have been held at St. Dunstan’s Coffee-house, which was situated in or near Fleet Street, and at the first of these, on January 14, 1715-6, Mr. Henry Hoare, Mr. William Wogan, Mr. Robert Witham and the Rev. Patrick Cockburn, consulted together upon the most effectual methods for the relief of the sick and the needy. Mr. Hoare had succeeded his father, Sir Richard, in the business of goldsmith and banker founded upon the site still occupied by that firm. According to the epitaph upon his tombstone, “ he lived under a settled habit of private charities,” and died in March, 1724-5, at his Fleet Street house, which was situated in the parish of St. Dunstan, leaving legacies to St. Bartholomew’s and Beth- lehem Hospitals, but not to the Westminster Infirmary.2 Mr. Wogan was probably identical with one of the same name who lived to see the secession to Lanesborough House, and to become an original trustee and governor of the new institution. Mr. Witham was probably a brewer, and the Rev. Patrick Cockburn was formerly curate of St. Dunstan’s, from which he was ejected as a Non-juror in 1714, after which he is said to have made a scanty living for a time by teaching Latin in a school in Chancery Lane.3 It is probable that he made the acquaintance of Mr. Hoare during his association with St. Dunstan’s, and thus obtained his sympathy and assistance for the charitable proposal. 1 Five hundred copies of this Proposal “ stitched in blew paper,” were ordered to be printed. a Hoare, History of Modern Wilts, i., p. 56. 3 Diet. Nat. Biog.