Richard Quain (1800-1887)
Encyclopedia
Richard Quain was an English
anatomist
and surgeon
, born at Fermoy
, Ireland
, a brother of Jones Quain
. He studied medicine in London
and in Paris
. He was appointed demonstrator in 1828 and professor
of anatomy in 1832 at the University of London (now University College London
), resigning in 1850, and assistant surgeon in 1834 and surgeon in 1848 to the North London Hospital, from which he resigned in 1866. He was president of the Royal College of Surgeons
in 1868.
, co. Cork, in July 1800, was third son of Richard Quain of Ratheahy, co. Cork, by his first wife. Jones Quain
was his full brother, and Sir John Richard Quain
was his half-brother. Richard received his early education at Adair's school at Fermoy, and, after serving an apprenticeship to a surgeon in Ireland, came to London to pursue the more scientific part of his professional studies at the Aldersgate School of Medicine, under the supervision of his brother Jones. He afterwards went to Paris, where he attended the lectures of Richard Bennett
, a private lecturer on anatomy and an Irish friend of his father. In 1828, when Bennett was appointed a demonstrator of anatomy in the newly constituted school of the university of London (now University College) Quain assisted his patron in the duties of his new office. Bennett died in 1830, and Quain then became senior demonstrator of anatomy, Sir Charles Bell at that time occupying the professorial chair of general anatomy and physiology. When Bell resigned this post, Richard Quain was appointed professor of descriptive anatomy in 1832, Erasmus Wilson, Thomas Morton
, Viner Ellis, and John Marshall
successively acting as his demonstrators. He held the office until 1850.
Quain was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England on 18 Jan. 1828, and in 1834 he was appointed the first assistant-surgeon to University College, or the North London, Hospital. He succeeded, after a stormy progress, to the office of full surgeon and special professor of clinical surgery in 1848, resigned in 1866, and was then appointed consulting surgeon to the hospital and emeritus professor of clinical surgery in its medical school.
When the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons was established by royal charter in 1843, Quain was one of those selected for the honour. He was admitted on 11 Dec. 1843, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 29 Feb. 1844. He became a member of the council of the College of Surgeons in 1854, was a member of the court of examiners in 1865, and chairman of the board of examiners in midwifery in 1867. He was elected president of the college in 1868, and in the following year delivered the Hunterian oration. From 1870 to 1876 he represented the Royal College of Surgeons of England in the General Council of Education and Registration, and at the time of his death was one of Queen Victoria's surgeons-extraordinary. He died on 15 Sept. 1887, and is buried at Finchley.
He married, in 1859, Ellen, viscountess Midleton, widow of the fifth viscount, but had no children by her. He left the bulk of his fortune, amounting to about 75,000l., "for the promotion and encouragement, in connection with University College, London, of general education in modern languages (especially the English language and composition in that language) and in natural science." The Quain professorship of English language and literature and the Quain studentships and prizes were founded in accordance with this bequest.
Besides editing his brother's Elements of Anatomy in 1848, Quain published:
A life-size half-length in oils, painted by George Richmond
, R.A., is in the secretary's office at the Royal College of Surgeons in England. A bust, by Thomas Woolner
, is in the council-room of the Royal College of Surgeons; and a quarto lithographic plate, by Thomas Bridgford
, A.R.H.A., is in the possession of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
anatomist
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, born at Fermoy
Fermoy
Fermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, a brother of Jones Quain
Jones Quain
Jones Quain was an anatomist, born at Mallow, Ireland. Quain was professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the University of London. He was author of Elements of Anatomy, of which the first edition was published in 1828.-Biography :...
. He studied medicine 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...
and in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was appointed demonstrator in 1828 and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of anatomy in 1832 at the University of London (now University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
), resigning in 1850, and assistant surgeon in 1834 and surgeon in 1848 to the North London Hospital, from which he resigned in 1866. He was president of 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...
in 1868.
Biography
Quain, born at FermoyFermoy
Fermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
, co. Cork, in July 1800, was third son of Richard Quain of Ratheahy, co. Cork, by his first wife. Jones Quain
Jones Quain
Jones Quain was an anatomist, born at Mallow, Ireland. Quain was professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the University of London. He was author of Elements of Anatomy, of which the first edition was published in 1828.-Biography :...
was his full brother, and Sir John Richard Quain
John Richard Quain
Sir John Richard Quain , judge, youngest son of Richard Quain of Ratheahy, co. Cork, by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Andrew Mahoney, was born at Ratheahy in 1816. Jones Quain and Richard Quain were his half-brothers. He was educated at Göttingen, and at University College, London, where...
was his half-brother. Richard received his early education at Adair's school at Fermoy, and, after serving an apprenticeship to a surgeon in Ireland, came to London to pursue the more scientific part of his professional studies at the Aldersgate School of Medicine, under the supervision of his brother Jones. He afterwards went to Paris, where he attended the lectures of Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett may refer to:* Richard Bennett , film star and father of actresses Constance Bennett and Joan Bennett* Richard Bennett , English cricketer...
, a private lecturer on anatomy and an Irish friend of his father. In 1828, when Bennett was appointed a demonstrator of anatomy in the newly constituted school of the university of London (now University College) Quain assisted his patron in the duties of his new office. Bennett died in 1830, and Quain then became senior demonstrator of anatomy, Sir Charles Bell at that time occupying the professorial chair of general anatomy and physiology. When Bell resigned this post, Richard Quain was appointed professor of descriptive anatomy in 1832, Erasmus Wilson, Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton may refer to:* Tom Morton , Scottish journalist, author and BBC Radio Scotland broadcaster* Thomas Morton , Bishop of Durham and Chester in the 17th century...
, Viner Ellis, and John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
successively acting as his demonstrators. He held the office until 1850.
Quain was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England on 18 Jan. 1828, and in 1834 he was appointed the first assistant-surgeon to University College, or the North London, Hospital. He succeeded, after a stormy progress, to the office of full surgeon and special professor of clinical surgery in 1848, resigned in 1866, and was then appointed consulting surgeon to the hospital and emeritus professor of clinical surgery in its medical school.
When the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons was established by royal charter in 1843, Quain was one of those selected for the honour. He was admitted on 11 Dec. 1843, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 29 Feb. 1844. He became a member of the council of the College of Surgeons in 1854, was a member of the court of examiners in 1865, and chairman of the board of examiners in midwifery in 1867. He was elected president of the college in 1868, and in the following year delivered the Hunterian oration. From 1870 to 1876 he represented the Royal College of Surgeons of England in the General Council of Education and Registration, and at the time of his death was one of Queen Victoria's surgeons-extraordinary. He died on 15 Sept. 1887, and is buried at Finchley.
He married, in 1859, Ellen, viscountess Midleton, widow of the fifth viscount, but had no children by her. He left the bulk of his fortune, amounting to about 75,000l., "for the promotion and encouragement, in connection with University College, London, of general education in modern languages (especially the English language and composition in that language) and in natural science." The Quain professorship of English language and literature and the Quain studentships and prizes were founded in accordance with this bequest.
Works
Quain was a cautious rather than a demonstrative surgeon, yet on all matters of clinical detail he was practical, sensible, and painstaking. He had the interest of the profession strongly at heart, and constantly insisted upon the necessity of a preliminary liberal education for all its members. His character, however, was marred by the violence of his party feelings, his jealousy, and the readiness with which he imputed improper motives to all who differed from him.Besides editing his brother's Elements of Anatomy in 1848, Quain published:
- The Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body, with its Applications to Pathology and Operative Surgery, in Lithographic Drawings with Practical Commentaries, folio, London, 1844. Explanation of the Plates, 8vo, London. The splendid drawings were executed by Joseph Maclise, F.R.C.S., brother of Daniel MacliseDaniel MacliseDaniel Maclise was an Irish history, literary and portrait painter, and illustrator, who worked for most of his life in London, England.-Early life:...
, R.A. The explanation of the plates was arranged by Richard QuainRichard QuainSir Richard Quain, 1st Baronet , was an Irish physician.He was born at Mallow-on-the-Blackwater, County Cork, and died in Harley Street, London....
, M.B. (later Sir Richard Quain, bart., F.R.S.) The recorded facts illustrating the history of the arterial system were deduced from observations conducted upon 1040 subjects. - The Diseases of the Rectum, plates, 8vo, London, 1854; 2nd edit. 1855.
- Clinical Lectures, 8vo, London, 1884.
A life-size half-length in oils, painted by George Richmond
George Richmond
For the 21st century educator see George H. RichmondGeorge Richmond was an English painter.George Richmond was the father of the painter William Blake Richmond as well as the grandfather of the naval historian, Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond.A keen follower of cricket, Richmond was noted in one...
, R.A., is in the secretary's office at the Royal College of Surgeons in England. A bust, by Thomas Woolner
Thomas Woolner
Thomas Woolner RA was an English sculptor and poet who was one of the founder-members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He was the only sculptor among the original members....
, is in the council-room of the Royal College of Surgeons; and a quarto lithographic plate, by Thomas Bridgford
Thomas Bridgford
Thomas Bridgford, Irish artist, born 6 April 1812 in Manchester, England. Produced portraits, paintings, and lithographs, in England, Ireland. Died 21 November 1878 in Dublin, Ireland.- External links :* National Portrait Gallery...
, A.R.H.A., is in the possession of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society.