Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Baronet, GCVO
, CH
, CB
(15 February 1853 – 7 December 1923) was a prominent British
surgeon
of the Victorian
and Edwardian eras, now most famous for his friendship with Joseph Merrick, "the Elephant Man"
.
, the son of William Treves, an upholsterer, and his wife Jane (née Knght). As a small boy, he attended the school run by the Dorset dialect poet, William Barnes
. He became a surgeon
, specialising in abdominal surgery, at the London Hospital
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Treves performed the first appendectomy in England, on 29 June 1888.
He married Ann Elizabeth Mason in 1877.
In 1884, Treves first saw Joseph Merrick
, known as the Elephant Man, being exhibited by showman Tom Norman
in a shop across the road from the London Hospital. Around 1886 Treves brought Merrick to the London Hospital where Merrick lived until his death in April 1890. Treves' reminiscences mistakenly names Joseph Merrick as John Merrick, an error widely recirculated by other biographers of Joseph Merrick.
During the Second Boer War
(1899-1902), Treves volunteered to work at a field hospital in South Africa
treating the wounded. He later published works of his experiences in The Tale of a Field Hospital, as the basis of articles written at the time for the British Medical Journal
.
In May 1901, Treves was appointed Serjeant Surgeon
to King Edward VII
. The coronation
of the new king was scheduled for 26 June, but on 24 June, Edward was diagnosed with appendicitis
. Treves, with the support of Lord Lister
, performed a then-radical operation of draining the infected appendix through a small incision. This was at a time when appendicitis was generally not treated operatively and carried a high mortality rate. The King had opposed surgery for this reason but Treves insisted, stating that if he was not permitted to operate, there would instead be a funeral. The next day, Edward was sitting up in bed, smoking a cigar.
Treves was honoured with a baronetcy (which Edward had arranged before the operation) and appendix surgery entered the medical mainstream. He was granted the use of Thatched House Lodge
in Richmond Park
and was subsequently able to take early retirement.
the pirate, an eruption of Mount Pelée
(which destroyed the city of St. Pierre, Martinique), and a powerful earthquake at Kingston, Jamaica
, at which he landed shortly after the event. From 1902 to 1910 he was Serjeant Surgeon
to the Royal Household. He was also a founder of the British Red Cross
, and was the first president of the Society of Dorset Men.
Around 1920 Sir Frederick went to live in Switzerland
where he died in Lausanne
on 7 December 1923 at the age of 70. He died from peritonitis
, which, ironically, in the days before antibiotics commonly resulted from a ruptured appendix
. His funeral took place at St Peter's church, Dorchester on 2 January 1924 and the King and Queen were represented by Lord Dawson
. His lifelong friend Thomas Hardy
attended and chose the hymns. Hardy also wrote a poem for the occasion and had it published in The Times. It started with the words: “In the evening, when the world knew he was dead”. His ashes were buried in Dorchester (Fordington
) cemetery.
, Bernard Pomerance
's 1977 play about Joseph Merrick's life, as well as David Lynch
's 1980 film adaptation
, in which he was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins
. In that film, the English actor Frederick Treves
, Sir Frederick Treves' great-nephew, plays the character of Alderman.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CH
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(15 February 1853 – 7 December 1923) was a prominent British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
of the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and Edwardian eras, now most famous for his friendship with Joseph Merrick, "the Elephant Man"
Joseph Merrick
Joseph Carey Merrick , sometimes incorrectly referred to as John Merrick, was an English man with severe deformities who was exhibited as a human curiosity named the Elephant Man. He became well known in London society after he went to live at the London Hospital...
.
Eminent surgeon
Frederick Treves was born 15 February 1853 in Dorchester, DorsetDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, the son of William Treves, an upholsterer, and his wife Jane (née Knght). As a small boy, he attended the school run by the Dorset dialect poet, William Barnes
William Barnes
William Barnes was an English writer, poet, minister, and philologist. He wrote over 800 poems, some in Dorset dialect and much other work including a comprehensive English grammar quoting from more than 70 different languages.-Life:He was born at Rushay in the parish of Bagber, Dorset, the son of...
. He became a 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...
, specialising in abdominal surgery, at the London Hospital
Royal London Hospital
The Royal London Hospital was founded in September 1740 and was originally named The London Infirmary. The name changed to The London Hospital in 1748 and then to The Royal London Hospital on its 250th anniversary in 1990. The first patients were treated at a house in Featherstone Street,...
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Treves performed the first appendectomy in England, on 29 June 1888.
He married Ann Elizabeth Mason in 1877.
In 1884, Treves first saw Joseph Merrick
Joseph Merrick
Joseph Carey Merrick , sometimes incorrectly referred to as John Merrick, was an English man with severe deformities who was exhibited as a human curiosity named the Elephant Man. He became well known in London society after he went to live at the London Hospital...
, known as the Elephant Man, being exhibited by showman Tom Norman
Tom Norman
Thomas Noakes, later known as Tom Norman, was an English businessman and showman. He started his working life as a butcher in Sussex and at 17 moved to London. After viewing an exhibition of an "Electric Lady" next door to his place of work, he went into business with the lady's manager and began...
in a shop across the road from the London Hospital. Around 1886 Treves brought Merrick to the London Hospital where Merrick lived until his death in April 1890. Treves' reminiscences mistakenly names Joseph Merrick as John Merrick, an error widely recirculated by other biographers of Joseph Merrick.
During the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
(1899-1902), Treves volunteered to work at a field hospital in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
treating the wounded. He later published works of his experiences in The Tale of a Field Hospital, as the basis of articles written at the time for the British Medical Journal
British Medical Journal
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
.
In May 1901, Treves was appointed Serjeant Surgeon
Serjeant Surgeon
The Serjeant Surgeon is an officer of the Medical Household of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, dating from 1253.-Pre-twentieth century :*Robert Keate FRCS 1841*Sir William Lawrence, Bt FRCS FRS...
to King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. The coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
of the new king was scheduled for 26 June, but on 24 June, Edward was diagnosed with appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. Treves, with the support of Lord Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister OM, FRS, PC , known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, who promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary...
, performed a then-radical operation of draining the infected appendix through a small incision. This was at a time when appendicitis was generally not treated operatively and carried a high mortality rate. The King had opposed surgery for this reason but Treves insisted, stating that if he was not permitted to operate, there would instead be a funeral. The next day, Edward was sitting up in bed, smoking a cigar.
Treves was honoured with a baronetcy (which Edward had arranged before the operation) and appendix surgery entered the medical mainstream. He was granted the use of Thatched House Lodge
Thatched House Lodge
Thatched House Lodge is a royal residence in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in London, England.The main house has six reception rooms and six bedrooms, and it stands in four acres of grounds. The gardens include an eighteenth-century two-room thatched summer house which gave the main...
in Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
and was subsequently able to take early retirement.
Author and honours
Treves was also the author of many books, including The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences (1923), Surgically Applied Anatomy (1883), The Highways and Byways of Dorset (the area of Britain in which he was born), A Student's Handbook of Surgical Operations (1892), Uganda for a Holiday, The Land That is Desolate, and The Cradle of the Deep (1908). This last volume is an account of his travels in and among the West Indies, interspersed with portions of their histories; describing (among other things) the death of BlackbeardBlackbeard
Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies....
the pirate, an eruption of Mount Pelée
Mount Pelée
Mount Pelée is an active volcano at the northern end of the island and French overseas department of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles island arc of the Caribbean. Its volcanic cone is composed of layers of volcanic ash and hardened lava....
(which destroyed the city of St. Pierre, Martinique), and a powerful earthquake at Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, at which he landed shortly after the event. From 1902 to 1910 he was Serjeant Surgeon
Serjeant Surgeon
The Serjeant Surgeon is an officer of the Medical Household of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, dating from 1253.-Pre-twentieth century :*Robert Keate FRCS 1841*Sir William Lawrence, Bt FRCS FRS...
to the Royal Household. He was also a founder of the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
, and was the first president of the Society of Dorset Men.
Around 1920 Sir Frederick went to live in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where he died in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
on 7 December 1923 at the age of 70. He died from peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
, which, ironically, in the days before antibiotics commonly resulted from a ruptured appendix
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
. His funeral took place at St Peter's church, Dorchester on 2 January 1924 and the King and Queen were represented by Lord Dawson
Bertrand Dawson, 1st Viscount Dawson of Penn
Bertrand Edward Dawson, 1st Viscount Dawson of Penn, GCVO, KCB, KCMG, PC, FRCP was a physician to the British Royal Family and President of the Royal College of Physicians.-Early life and education:...
. His lifelong friend Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
attended and chose the hymns. Hardy also wrote a poem for the occasion and had it published in The Times. It started with the words: “In the evening, when the world knew he was dead”. His ashes were buried in Dorchester (Fordington
Fordington, Dorset
Fordington is a part of the town of Dorchester, Dorset; originally a separate village, it has now become a suburb. Taking its name from a ford across the River Frome, it grew up around the church of St. George , though the parish was much larger and surrounded Dorchester on three sides...
) cemetery.
Fictional portrayals
Treves is one of the main characters in The Elephant ManThe Elephant Man (play)
The Elephant Man is a 1977 play by Bernard Pomerance. The production's Broadway debut in 1979 was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss...
, Bernard Pomerance
Bernard Pomerance
Bernard Pomerance is an American playwright and poet whose best known work is the play The Elephant Man. Pomerance was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1940. He studied at the University of Chicago and moved to London in 1968....
's 1977 play about Joseph Merrick's life, as well as David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
's 1980 film adaptation
The Elephant Man (film)
The Elephant Man is a 1980 American drama film based on the true story of Joseph Merrick , a severely deformed man in 19th century London...
, in which he was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
. In that film, the English actor Frederick Treves
Frederick Treves (actor)
Frederick William Treves BEM, is an English character actor with an extensive repertoire, specialising in avuncular military and titled types....
, Sir Frederick Treves' great-nephew, plays the character of Alderman.
External links
- Works by Frederick Treves at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences
- Who Named It biography
- Frederick Treves at Surgical-tutor.org.uk