Item G/PP/1/21 - Papers of John Gunning relating to regulations for teaching of pupils, dressers and apprentices at Guy's Hospital, 1792

John Gunning was Assistant surgeon to St George's Hospital, London, from 21 Jan. 1760 to 4 Jan. 1765, and full surgeon from that date till his death. In 1773 he was elected steward of anatomy by the Surgeons' Company, but paid the fine rather than serve. In 1789 he was elected examiner, and in the same year he was chosen master of the company. In 1790 Gunning was appointed the first professor of surgery; but he soon resigned on the plea that it occupied too much of his time, and no new appointment was made. Gunning was in general opposed to his colleague at St. George's, John Hunter. The quarrel rose to a great pitch when a surgeon was elected in succession to Charles Hawkins. Keate was supported by Gunning, and Home by Hunter, and after a sharp contest Keate was elected. A dispute ensued about fees for surgical lectures, which led to a controversy between Gunning, senior surgeon, supported by two of his colleagues, and Hunter. It ended in John Hunter's dramatically sudden death on 16 Oct. 1793, immediately after being flatly contradicted by one of his colleagues, apparently Gunning. Gunning had been appointed surgeon-general of the army in 1793, on the death of John Hunter; he was also senior surgeon extraordinary to the king. He died at Bath on 14 February 1798.