Benjamin Guy Babington
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Guy Babington was an English physician and epidemiologist.
He was born on 5 March 1794, the son of the physician and mineralogist William Babington (1756–1833) and his wife, Martha Elizabeth (née Hough) Babington.
After serving as a midshipman and studying at Charterhouse School
from 1803 to 1807 and then the East India Company College
at Hayleybury until 1812, he worked in government at Madras, India. Returning to England, he studied medicine at Guy's Hospital
and Cambridge
, receiving his doctorate in 1831. He then became Assistant Physician at Guy's but resigned after a disagreement in 1855. During his career, he invented several medical instruments (including the first larygoscope) and techniques. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
.
He was Secretary to The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and in March, 1828 elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1850 he founded the London Epidemiological Society and was its chairman for many years. At least one authority refers to the founding as the beginning of modern epidemiology. In 1863 he was also president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society.
He was named after his father's best friend - Benjamin Fayle and the fact that he was born in Guy's Hospital. He married Benjamin Fayle's daughter Anna Mary, who gave him four children. He also became a director of B.Fayle and Co.(Merchants) together with his sister-in-law (Charlotte Fayle) and his brother-in-law (Rev Richard Fayle)
He died on 8 April 1866 .
He was born on 5 March 1794, the son of the physician and mineralogist William Babington (1756–1833) and his wife, Martha Elizabeth (née Hough) Babington.
After serving as a midshipman and studying at Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
from 1803 to 1807 and then the East India Company College
East India Company College
The East India College was a college in Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in February 1806 as the training establishment for the British East India Company . At that time, the BEIC provided general and vocational education for young gentlemen of sixteen to eighteen years old,...
at Hayleybury until 1812, he worked in government at Madras, India. Returning to England, he studied medicine at Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, receiving his doctorate in 1831. He then became Assistant Physician at Guy's but resigned after a disagreement in 1855. During his career, he invented several medical instruments (including the first larygoscope) and techniques. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
.
He was Secretary to The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and in March, 1828 elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1850 he founded the London Epidemiological Society and was its chairman for many years. At least one authority refers to the founding as the beginning of modern epidemiology. In 1863 he was also president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society.
He was named after his father's best friend - Benjamin Fayle and the fact that he was born in Guy's Hospital. He married Benjamin Fayle's daughter Anna Mary, who gave him four children. He also became a director of B.Fayle and Co.(Merchants) together with his sister-in-law (Charlotte Fayle) and his brother-in-law (Rev Richard Fayle)
He died on 8 April 1866 .
Publications
He wrote several papers and translated several others, icluding:- four papers from J. F. K. Hecker’s "Epidemics of the Middle Ages" (1833-1836)
- Baron Ernst Von Feuchtersleben’s "Principles of Medical Psychology". (1806-1849)