John Hunter

Doctor

Birthday February 13, 1728

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Scotland

DEATH DATE Oct 16, 1793 (65)

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About

Scottish surgeon who championed the application of the scientific method in medicine and became one of the most respected doctors of his day. He is the namesake of The Hunterian Society of London and contributed greatly to the medical field's understanding of bone growth, digestion, inflammation and other processes of the human body.

Before Fame

He got his start in medicine as an assistant in dissections to his brother William, who was an anatomist. He later served as an Army surgeon in the early 1760's.

Trivia

He was the teacher and friend of Edward Jenner, who created the smallpox vaccine.

Family Life

He married poet Anne Hunter in 1771 and had four children with her, two of whom died in infancy.

Associated With

He was made Surgeon General by Prime Minister William Pitt in 1790.