John Wigan (physician)
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Wigan was a prominent British physician, poet and author of the early eighteenth century whose writings and translations were popular and widely referred to during the period. He served as principal of New Inn Hall at Oxford University between 1726 and 1732 and was physician of Westminster Hospital
between 1733 and 1738. In 1738 he travelled to Jamaica
with Edward Trelawny and died there a year later in December 1739.
. At 14, Wigan was admitted to Westminster School
and from there moved to Christ Church, Oxford
where he obtained his BA, MA And MD. In 1726, during his final year of studies he was made principal of New Inn Hall and was already a celebrated writer on medical topics and poet. His 1723 translation of the works of Aretaeus of Cappadocia
was widely remarked on and was used as the basis of Herman Boerhaave
's work on the same topic. His poetry was well-received and was pulished in the "Carmina quadragesimalia" and elsewhere.
In 1731, Wigan was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons
and moved to Craig's Court in London
. In 1733 he was elected to the post of physician
at Westminster Hospital
which he retained until 1738, when he travelled to Jamaica
with old friend Edward Trelawny. Trelawny settled in Spanish Town
, and Wigan married Mary Wheeler, daughter of planter John Douce soon afterwards. The couple had one daughter. In late 1739, Wigan died at Spanish Town and was buried under a black marble slab at St Catherine's Cathedral Church.
Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
between 1733 and 1738. In 1738 he travelled to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
with Edward Trelawny and died there a year later in December 1739.
Career
John Wigan was born in 1696, the son of William Wigan, rector of KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
. At 14, Wigan was admitted to Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and from there moved to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
where he obtained his BA, MA And MD. In 1726, during his final year of studies he was made principal of New Inn Hall and was already a celebrated writer on medical topics and poet. His 1723 translation of the works of Aretaeus of Cappadocia
Aretaeus of Cappadocia
Aretaeus , is one of the most celebrated of the ancient Greek physicians, of whose life, however, few particulars are known. There is some uncertainty regarding both his age and country, but it seems probable that he practised in the 1st century CE, during the reign of Nero or Vespasian...
was widely remarked on and was used as the basis of Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave was a Dutch botanist, humanist and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital. His main achievement was to demonstrate the relation of symptoms to lesions...
's work on the same topic. His poetry was well-received and was pulished in the "Carmina quadragesimalia" and elsewhere.
In 1731, Wigan was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
and moved to Craig's Court in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1733 he was elected to the post of physician
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...
at Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
which he retained until 1738, when he travelled to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
with old friend Edward Trelawny. Trelawny settled in Spanish Town
Spanish Town
Spanish Town is the capital and the largest town in the parish of St. Catherine in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica. It was the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica from the 16th to the 19th century...
, and Wigan married Mary Wheeler, daughter of planter John Douce soon afterwards. The couple had one daughter. In late 1739, Wigan died at Spanish Town and was buried under a black marble slab at St Catherine's Cathedral Church.