Ralph Winterton
Encyclopedia
Ralph Winterton was an English physician, academic and humanist. At the end of his life he became the Cambridge Regius Professor of Physic
.
, Leicestershire
. He was sent to Eton College
, and on 3 June 1617 was elected scholar of King's College, Cambridge
, where he became a fellow on 3 June 1620. He matriculated in the university on 5 July 1617, graduated B.A. 1620, M.A. 1624. Suffering from sleeplessness and melancholia
, he consulted the Regius Professor of Physic, Dr. John Collins, who advised him to give up mathematics, at which he was then working, and to study medicine, advice Winterton followed.
In 1625 Winterton was a candidate for the professorship of Greek, when Robert Creighton
, who had for some time been deputy, was elected. Winterton then petitioned the visitor of King's College in May 1629, and on 20 August was formally diverted to the study of physic, which he had already pursued for four years. He received the university license to practise medicine in 1631, and on 16 September in that year petitioned King's College to grant him the degree of M.D. under its statutes. His request was refused, but was urged by John Hacket
, writing from Buckden Palace on 25 January 1632, on behalf of the bishop of Lincoln
, and by Bishop John Williams
himself on 28 June 1632, as well as by the Earl of Holland
on 28 November 1633, but all without effect. Some acrid theological discussion seems to have been the ground for these refusals. A letter of 12 December 1633 from Archbishop William Laud
, to Samuel Collins
, Provost of King's, saw the degree granted within two weeks.
The book Hippocratis Magni Aphorismi led to Winterton's appointment as Regius Professor of Physic in 1635. The course for the M.D. degree was then twelve years, and efforts were often made to obtain incorporation after graduation in other universities. These he put a stop to, as he announces in a letter, dated 25 August 1635, to Dr. Simeon Foxe, then president of the College of Physicians.
He died on 13 September 1636 at Cambridge, and was buried at the east end of King's College chapel.
He made a Greek metrical version of the first books of the aphorisms of Hippocrates
in 1631, and early in 1633 published at Cambridge, with a dedication to William Laud, at that time bishop of London
, ‘Hippocratis Magni Aphorismi Soluti et Metrici.’ Each aphorism is given in the original with the Latin version of Johannes Heurnius
of Utrecht
, and is rendered into Latin verse and Greek verse. The Latin verses are by John Fryer
, president of the College of Physicians in 1549, whose name appears on the title-page.
The seven books of aphorisms are followed by epigrams in Latin or Greek in praise of Winterton's work by the regius professors of medicine at Cambridge and Oxford; by the president and seventeen fellows of the College of Physicians, of whom fourteen were Cantabrigians and three Oxonians; by Francis Glisson
, afterwards professor of physic; by members of every college at Cambridge but one; by the professor of astronomy and members of several colleges at Oxford, concluding with twenty epigrams by members of King's College. Laudatory opinions in prose by the masters of Peterhouse, Christ's, and Trinity, and the president of Queens', and by two professors of divinity are prefixed.
Other works
In 1627 Winterton translated Johann Gerhard
's ‘Meditations,’ in which he was encouraged by John Bowle
; they were printed at Cambridge in 1631, and reached a fifth edition in 1638.
His brother Francis was one of six hundred volunteers, commanded by the Marquis of Hamilton
, who went to serve under Gustavus Adolphus, and his death at Castrin in Silesia
in 1631 depressed Winterton; he sought relief by translating the ‘Considerations of Drexelius upon Eternitie’ of Jeremias Drexel
, which was published at the Cambridge University press in 1636, and of which subsequent editions appeared in 1650 and 1658, 1675, 1684, 1703, 1705, and 1716. In 1632 he also translated and printed at Cambridge ‘A Golden Chaine of Divine Aphorismes’ by Gerhard. It contains commendatory verses in English by Edward Benlowes
of St. John's College, and by four fellows of his own college, Dore Williamson, Robert Newman, Henry Whiston, and Thomas Page.
In 1633 he published at Cambridge an edition of Terence
, and an edition of the Greek poem of Dionysius Periegetes
, De Situ Orbis, with a dedication in Greek verse to Sir Henry Wotton, Provost of Eton.
While preparing the Greek aphorisms he also worked on an edition of the ‘Poetæ minores Græci,’ based upon those of Henry Stephen
(1566) and Crispin (1600), with observations of his own on Hesiod
. The book was published at Cambridge in 1635, with a dedication to Archbishop Laud, and subsequent editions appeared in 1652, 1661, 1671, 1677, 1684, 1700, and 1712. He published at Cambridge in 1631 Greek verses at the end of William Buckley's ‘Arithmetica Memorativa,’ and in 1635 verses in ‘Carmen Natalitium,’ and in ‘Genethliacum Academiæ.’
and who wrote verses in ‘Carmen Natalitium,’ he gave the medical works of Daniel Sennertus in six volumes and of Martin Rulandus
, and the surgery of William Clowes the younger, with his anatomy instruments.
Regius Professor of Physic (Cambridge)
The Regius Professorship of Physic is one of the oldest professorships at the University of Cambridge, founded by Henry VIII in 1540. "Physic" is an old word for medicine, , not physics.-Regius Professors of Physic:...
.
Life
The son of Francis Winterton, he was born at LutterworthLutterworth
Lutterworth is a market town and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, north of Rugby, in Warwickshire and south of Leicester. It had a population of 8,293 in the 2001 UK census....
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. He was sent to Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and on 3 June 1617 was elected scholar of King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where he became a fellow on 3 June 1620. He matriculated in the university on 5 July 1617, graduated B.A. 1620, M.A. 1624. Suffering from sleeplessness and melancholia
Melancholia
Melancholia , also lugubriousness, from the Latin lugere, to mourn; moroseness, from the Latin morosus, self-willed, fastidious habit; wistfulness, from old English wist: intent, or saturnine, , in contemporary usage, is a mood disorder of non-specific depression,...
, he consulted the Regius Professor of Physic, Dr. John Collins, who advised him to give up mathematics, at which he was then working, and to study medicine, advice Winterton followed.
In 1625 Winterton was a candidate for the professorship of Greek, when Robert Creighton
Robert Creighton
Robert Creighton or Crichton was a Scottish royalist churchman who became Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Life:He was son of Thomas Creighton and Margaret Stuart, who claimed kinship with the ancient Lords of Ruthven, and was born at Dunkeld, Perthshire. He was educated at Westminster, and in 1613 was...
, who had for some time been deputy, was elected. Winterton then petitioned the visitor of King's College in May 1629, and on 20 August was formally diverted to the study of physic, which he had already pursued for four years. He received the university license to practise medicine in 1631, and on 16 September in that year petitioned King's College to grant him the degree of M.D. under its statutes. His request was refused, but was urged by John Hacket
John Hacket
John Hacket was an English churchman, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry from 1661 until his death.-Life:He was born in London and educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge. On taking his degree he was elected a fellow of his college, and soon afterwards wrote the comedy, Loiola , which...
, writing from Buckden Palace on 25 January 1632, on behalf of the bishop of Lincoln
Bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral...
, and by Bishop John Williams
John Williams (archbishop)
John Williams was a British clergyman and political advisor to King James I. He served as Bishop of Lincoln 1621–1641, Keeper of the Great Seal also known as Lord Keeper or Lord Chancellor 1621–1625, and Archbishop of York 1641–1650...
himself on 28 June 1632, as well as by the Earl of Holland
Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland
Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland was an English aristocrat, courtier and soldier.-Life:He was the son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick and of Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich, and the younger brother of Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick...
on 28 November 1633, but all without effect. Some acrid theological discussion seems to have been the ground for these refusals. A letter of 12 December 1633 from Archbishop William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
, to Samuel Collins
Samuel Collins (theologian)
Samuel Collins was an English clergyman and academic, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge and Provost of King's College, Cambridge.-Life:...
, Provost of King's, saw the degree granted within two weeks.
The book Hippocratis Magni Aphorismi led to Winterton's appointment as Regius Professor of Physic in 1635. The course for the M.D. degree was then twelve years, and efforts were often made to obtain incorporation after graduation in other universities. These he put a stop to, as he announces in a letter, dated 25 August 1635, to Dr. Simeon Foxe, then president of the College of Physicians.
He died on 13 September 1636 at Cambridge, and was buried at the east end of King's College chapel.
Works
MedicalHe made a Greek metrical version of the first books of the aphorisms of Hippocrates
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
in 1631, and early in 1633 published at Cambridge, with a dedication to William Laud, at that time bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, ‘Hippocratis Magni Aphorismi Soluti et Metrici.’ Each aphorism is given in the original with the Latin version of Johannes Heurnius
Johannes Heurnius
Johannes Heurnius was a Dutch physician and natural philosopher.-Life:He was born at Utrecht, and studied at Leuven and Paris. He went to the University of Padua to study under Hieronymus Fabricius; and graduated M.D...
of Utrecht
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
, and is rendered into Latin verse and Greek verse. The Latin verses are by John Fryer
John Fryer (physician)
John Fryer, M.D. was an English physician, humanist and early reformer.-Life:Fryer, born at Balsham, Cambridgeshire, was educated at Eton College and went to King's College, Cambridge in 1517. He graduated B.A. in 1521 and M.A. in 1525...
, president of the College of Physicians in 1549, whose name appears on the title-page.
The seven books of aphorisms are followed by epigrams in Latin or Greek in praise of Winterton's work by the regius professors of medicine at Cambridge and Oxford; by the president and seventeen fellows of the College of Physicians, of whom fourteen were Cantabrigians and three Oxonians; by Francis Glisson
Francis Glisson
Francis Glisson was a British physician, anatomist, and writer on medical subjects. He did important work on the anatomy of the liver, and he wrote an early pediatric text on rickets...
, afterwards professor of physic; by members of every college at Cambridge but one; by the professor of astronomy and members of several colleges at Oxford, concluding with twenty epigrams by members of King's College. Laudatory opinions in prose by the masters of Peterhouse, Christ's, and Trinity, and the president of Queens', and by two professors of divinity are prefixed.
Other works
In 1627 Winterton translated Johann Gerhard
Johann Gerhard
Johann Gerhard was a Lutheran church leader and Lutheran Scholastic theologian during the period of Orthodoxy.-Biography:He was born in the German city of Quedlinburg...
's ‘Meditations,’ in which he was encouraged by John Bowle
John Bowle (bishop)
John Bowle was an Engish churchman and bishop of Rochester.A native of Lancashire, he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship. He proceeded M.A. , D.D. , and was incorporated M.A. of Oxford on 9 July 1605, and D.D. on 11 July 1615...
; they were printed at Cambridge in 1631, and reached a fifth edition in 1638.
His brother Francis was one of six hundred volunteers, commanded by the Marquis of Hamilton
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton
General Sir James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton KG was a Scottish nobleman and influential Civil war military leader.-Young Arran:...
, who went to serve under Gustavus Adolphus, and his death at Castrin in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
in 1631 depressed Winterton; he sought relief by translating the ‘Considerations of Drexelius upon Eternitie’ of Jeremias Drexel
Jeremias Drexel
Jeremias Drexel S.J. was a Jesuit writer of devotional literature and a professor of the humanities and rhetoric...
, which was published at the Cambridge University press in 1636, and of which subsequent editions appeared in 1650 and 1658, 1675, 1684, 1703, 1705, and 1716. In 1632 he also translated and printed at Cambridge ‘A Golden Chaine of Divine Aphorismes’ by Gerhard. It contains commendatory verses in English by Edward Benlowes
Edward Benlowes
Edward Benlowes was an English poet, son of Andrew Benlowes of Brent Hall, Essex. He matriculated at St Johns College, Cambridge, in 1620, and on leaving the university he made a prolonged tour on the continent of Europe. He was a Roman Catholic in middle life, but became a convert to...
of St. John's College, and by four fellows of his own college, Dore Williamson, Robert Newman, Henry Whiston, and Thomas Page.
In 1633 he published at Cambridge an edition of Terence
Terence
Publius Terentius Afer , better known in English as Terence, was a playwright of the Roman Republic, of North African descent. His comedies were performed for the first time around 170–160 BC. Terentius Lucanus, a Roman senator, brought Terence to Rome as a slave, educated him and later on,...
, and an edition of the Greek poem of Dionysius Periegetes
Dionysius Periegetes
Dionysius Periegetes was the author of a description of the habitable world in Greek hexameter verse written in a terse and elegant style...
, De Situ Orbis, with a dedication in Greek verse to Sir Henry Wotton, Provost of Eton.
While preparing the Greek aphorisms he also worked on an edition of the ‘Poetæ minores Græci,’ based upon those of Henry Stephen
Henry Stephen
Henry Stephen OBE was an English chemist who might be best remembered for inventing the Stephen reaction, a way to make aldehydes from nitriles...
(1566) and Crispin (1600), with observations of his own on Hesiod
Hesiod
Hesiod was a Greek oral poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. His is the first European poetry in which the poet regards himself as a topic, an individual with a distinctive role to play. Ancient authors credited him and...
. The book was published at Cambridge in 1635, with a dedication to Archbishop Laud, and subsequent editions appeared in 1652, 1661, 1671, 1677, 1684, 1700, and 1712. He published at Cambridge in 1631 Greek verses at the end of William Buckley's ‘Arithmetica Memorativa,’ and in 1635 verses in ‘Carmen Natalitium,’ and in ‘Genethliacum Academiæ.’
Legacy
Winterton made his will on 25 August 1636, leaving bequests to his father, mother, brothers John, Henry, and William, and sisters Mary, Barbara, Fenton, and Ruth. To his brother John, who was a student of medicine at Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
and who wrote verses in ‘Carmen Natalitium,’ he gave the medical works of Daniel Sennertus in six volumes and of Martin Rulandus
Martin Ruland the Younger
Martin Ruland the Younger , also known as Martinus Rulandus or Martin Rulandt, was a German physician and alchemist....
, and the surgery of William Clowes the younger, with his anatomy instruments.