Henry Atkins (physician)
Encyclopedia
Henry Atkins was an English physician
.
Atkins was the son of Richard Atkins of Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire
. Matriculating at Trinity College, Oxford
, in 1574, he graduated there and afterwards proceeded M.D. at Nantes
. In 1588 he became fellow of the College of Physicians, and in 1606 president. He was re-elected in 1607, 1608, 1616, 1617, 1624, and 1625. In 1597 he sailed as physician to the Earl of Essex
in the Spanish expedition, but was so sea-sick that he had to be put on shore and resigned the appointment. In 1604 Dr. Atkins was sent by James I
to Scotland to bring back his son Charles. A letter of Dr. Atkins' on the child's health, written from Dunfermline
, is extant (Thomas, Historical Notes, p. 485). In 1612 he was called into consultation during the last illness of Henry, Prince of Wales
, and his opinion (Mayerne, Opera, p. 119) was that the disease was a putrid fever ‘without malignity, except that attending putridity.’ He suggested bleeding. His signature, as one of the king's physicians, stands next to that of Mayerne in the original report of the post-mortem examination (Original State Papers, vol. lxxi. No. 29). In 1611 the king is said to have offered Dr. Atkins the first baronet
's patent. In 1618, under the presidency of Dr. Atkins, the College of Physicians issued the first ‘London Pharmacopeia.’ The doctor married Mary Pigot of Dodershall, Bucks. He lived in Warwick Court, enjoyed a large practice, and died rich on 21 Sept. 1635. He left an only child, afterwards Sir Henry Atkins, and is buried in Cheshunt
church, where his monument remains. He was a benefactor of the College of Physicians.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Atkins was the son of Richard Atkins of Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Matriculating at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, in 1574, he graduated there and afterwards proceeded M.D. at Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
. In 1588 he became fellow of the College of Physicians, and in 1606 president. He was re-elected in 1607, 1608, 1616, 1617, 1624, and 1625. In 1597 he sailed as physician to the Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
in the Spanish expedition, but was so sea-sick that he had to be put on shore and resigned the appointment. In 1604 Dr. Atkins was sent by James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
to Scotland to bring back his son Charles. A letter of Dr. Atkins' on the child's health, written from Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
, is extant (Thomas, Historical Notes, p. 485). In 1612 he was called into consultation during the last illness of Henry, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, and his opinion (Mayerne, Opera, p. 119) was that the disease was a putrid fever ‘without malignity, except that attending putridity.’ He suggested bleeding. His signature, as one of the king's physicians, stands next to that of Mayerne in the original report of the post-mortem examination (Original State Papers, vol. lxxi. No. 29). In 1611 the king is said to have offered Dr. Atkins the first baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
's patent. In 1618, under the presidency of Dr. Atkins, the College of Physicians issued the first ‘London Pharmacopeia.’ The doctor married Mary Pigot of Dodershall, Bucks. He lived in Warwick Court, enjoyed a large practice, and died rich on 21 Sept. 1635. He left an only child, afterwards Sir Henry Atkins, and is buried in Cheshunt
Cheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
church, where his monument remains. He was a benefactor of the College of Physicians.