Browne, John (1642-1700)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0114 MS0177
Held at	: Royal College of Surgeons of England   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums-and-archives/archives/ ›
Full title	: Browne, John (1642-1700)
Date(s)	: 1675-1679
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 1 volume
Name of creator(s)	: Browne | John | 1642-1700 | surgeon

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

John Browne was born in 1642, possibly in Norwich. He studied at St Thomas's Hospital under Thomas Hollyer, and then served as a surgeon in the Navy. He settled at Norwich and in 1677 published his book on tumours. After this he relocated to London, becoming surgeon in ordinary to King Charles II. The King then supported Browne in his application for a post at St Thomas's. After a disagreement with the governers at the hospital the surgeons at St Thomas's, including Browne, were replaced. His appeals for reinstatement were not successful. He continued in the service of the monarchy and was surgeon to William III. His publications included one on the method used by Charles II on touching for the King's Evil, a treatise on wounds, and a treatise on the muscles of the human body published in 1681. This consisted of six lectures illustrated by copper plates. The text of the volume is probably based on William Molins' Myskotomia (1648), and the copper plates are probably based on Giulio Casserio's Tabulae anatomicae LXXIIX (1627).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of John Browne, 1675-1679, comprising a manuscript copy of John Browne's treatise on the muscles of the human body, dedicated to Charles II, and titled Myotomia, or the Anatomicall discourse of all the muscles of Humane body as they appeare in dissection collected, written and drawne by John Browne sworne Chirurgeon to the King, 1675. Containing letters and inscriptions from supporters of the publication of the volume, including Edmund Dickinson, Physician to the King's person and family, 24 Mar 1678-1679; Walter Needham, Charterhouse, 14 Apr 1679; Thomas Allen MD, Physician in Ordinary; Edward Warner, Physician in Ordinary; Edmund King, Physician in Ordinary to his Majesty; Gulielm Sanders MD; Hugh Chamberlen, Physician in Ordinary to his Majesty; A P Frasier; Charles Scarburgh; and Censors (of the Royal College of Physicians): Joannes Micklethwaite, Thomas Witherley, Samuel Collins, Thomas Millington, and Edvardus Browne. Including 36 tables of drawings.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English, Latin and Greek.

System of arrangement:

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Conditions governing access:

By written appointment only.

Conditions governing reproduction:

No photocopying permitted.

Finding aids:

Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1928) by Victor G Plarr.

Archival Information

Archival history:

The signature of Thomas Key is on the fly leaf, and the copy of the manuscript presumably belonged to him. This is possibly Thomas Hewitt Key (1799-1875), a classicist who had studied medicine, or possibly his father, Thomas Key, a London physician.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The provenance of this material is not known.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Anya Turner.
Source: Dictionary of National Biography, Volume VII, London, 1886; and The Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine catalogue.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Sep 2008