Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1818 - 1824 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Scope and content
Papers of Mr G Johnson, including, lists of proposed members of the Guy's Hospital Physical Society, of which he was secretary, Oct 1824; letter relating to the observation of the society's laws, 6 Nov 1818; memoranda and receipts, 1822; membership proposition slip; letters from the Society for the relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical men in London and its Vicinity; details of lease of Mr Johnson's house, 53 Prescott St and notice of the anniversary dinner of men educated at Guy's and St Thomas'; letter relating to stewards for the anniversary dinner, 15 Feb 1822; and miscellaneous memoranda.
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Physical Society of Guy's Hospital was founded in 1771, and London's first medical society. It was not initially associated with Guy's Hospital, but met in the theatre of Dr Lowder in Southwark, a private teacher of midwifery as well as lecturer at St Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals. The first meeting was held at Guy's Hospital between 1780 and 1782. The society met weekly from October to May to hear and discuss a dissertation and exchange medical news and cases. At the early meetings the chairman was usually Dr Haighton, Lecturer in Physiology and Midwifery at St Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals. The society was open to physicians, surgeons, apothecaries and pupils, and members largely comprised the officers of the Guy's and Thomas's Hospitals and practitioners in the area. On the establishment of other medical societies in London its popularity declined, and the society closed in 1852.