A biographical sketch of Dr. Lettsom / [John Coakley Lettsom].

  • Lettsom, John Coakley, 1744-1815
Date:
[1804]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical sketch of Dr. Lettsom / [John Coakley Lettsom]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    FROM THE LIBRARY OF I 6 DR. T. J. PETTIGREW ^ ^ZINE. Tvtj. ii. ^ ToL. I. J Eo/’FEBRUARY 1804. j^Nsw Series. A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DR.^JETTSOM. O record me adlioiis, the merits, and the claims of cotemporary genius, is the proper and peculiar province of periodical works, inaf- much as it is folely their object to furnilh amufement and inltrudion, and to “ Hold, as it v^ere, the Mir¬ ror up to Nature.*^ John Coakley Lettfom was born, in the year 174-4, at Little Van Pyke, a fmall ifland about three miles in circumference, and fitu- ated near Tortola, within the verge of the tropics. His anceftry may be traced far back, not that we think this any addition to the merits of a really good man. When only fix years old, young Lettfom was fent to England for the purpofe of receiving his edu¬ cation. One of thofe fortuitous circumftances, which fometimes de¬ termine the fate of empires, and fometimes caft the chara6ter of individuals, attended our fubje6l on this occafion. Mr. Fothergill, brother to the celebrated phyfician of the fame name, and an emi¬ nent preacher among the Quakers, happened to be at the very fea-port where Dr. Lettfom landed, and who was accidentally lodged in the fame houfe with him. This gentle¬ man, conceiving a prediledion for the youth, took in fome meafure the charge of his welfare, and placed him at the fchool of Mr. Thompfon, uncle to the phyfician of the fame name, Mr. Thompfon^s fchool being in the vicinity of Warrington, where Mr. Fothergill reftded, he con¬ tinued his fuperintendance of his education, and finally became his guardian on the death of Dr, Lett* VOL. I* fom^s father. This friendly office, which he undertook at his own fuggehion, led ultimately to the moll beneficial effeds, . After a proper time, our young adventurer was placed with Dr. SutclifF, with a view to his fu¬ ture profeffion. Fie afterwards af- fiduoudy attended St. Thomases Hofpital for two years, and then re¬ turned to his native place, in order to take polTeffion of fome property which had devolved to him, and which on his arrival he found to confift chiefly of a number of negro llaves : thefe, to his honour as a man, he liberated, notwithftanding that he became, in confequence of this ftep, reduced to confider- able embarraffment*. From this period Dr. Lettfom regarded his profeflional abilities as his fubfiftence; and, after fome fuccefsful pradice in Tortola, he re¬ turned again to Europe, vifiling at the fame time the great medical fchools ofParis, Edinburgh, and Leyden ; at the latter he took his degrees. After a fhort flay at Paris, where he was introduced to fome of the moft eminent charaders then living, he finally, took up his refidence in Lon¬ don, and experienced feveral gra¬ tuitous honours. Thus fixed in the metropolis, his adive philanthrophy foon began to exert itfelf, and he became fome¬ times the founder, and always the fupporter, of many charitable in- flitutions. About this time he mar- • We have recently learnt that he pof- feffed a moiety of Little Van Dyke, which he then fold to affift fome relatives in dif- trefs; but he has fince purchafed the whole ifland, in order, as he once obferved to a friend, that he might poffefs the aflies of his parents, who were interred in the ifland. P