Person    | Male  Born 1744  Died 1815

Dr John Lettsom

Categories: Medicine, Philanthropy, Race Issues

Countries: Virgin Islands

Physician, philanthropist, abolitionist and entomologist. Born British Virgin Islands into a Quaker family. Aged 6 was sent to England to be educated. Came to London in 1766 to train at St Thomas' Hospital. Founder of the Medical Society of London of which he was president on and off, 1775 - 1815.

He signed his prescriptions “I” which prompted this rhyme (of which there are some variant versions):

When patients ill, they comes to I,
I physicks, bleeds and sweats ‘em:
Sometimes they live, sometimes they die,
What’s that to I? I Lettsom.

A noted abolitionist, on the death of his father he returned to the Virgin Islands where he freed the slaves he had inherited. But later, his son, through a wealthy marriage back in the Virgin Islands, brought slaves back into the family and Lettsom inherited them shortly before he died. Thus he died with 1,000 slaves in his estate. He had some explaining to do at the pearly gates.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dr John Lettsom

Commemorated ati

Dr John Lettsom's house

{On a modern information plaque at the foot of this edifice:} Stonework from...

Read More

Medical Society and Lettsom

Site of the Medical Society of London 1787 - 1850 gifted by a founder, John C...

Read More

Other Subjects

Melanie Klein

Melanie Klein

Psychoanalyst and pioneer of child analysis.  Born with the surname Reizes in Vienna.  Her 1903 marriage to Arthur Klein led to the end of her education, 3 children, frequent home moves and divorce...

Person, Medicine, Austria

1 memorial
Cecil J. R. MacFadden, OBE, MD

Cecil J. R. MacFadden, OBE, MD

Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District Metropolitan Corps, 1903-1930. Commander in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Whitgift Almshouses / Hospital of the Holy Trinity, Croydon

Whitgift Almshouses / Hospital of the Holy Trinity, Croydon

Erected by Archbishop John Whitgift, after he had petitioned and received permission from Queen Elizabeth I to establish a hospital and school in Croydon. The premises provided accommodation for be...

Building, Medicine

1 memorial
Dr Mark Jonathan David Damien Lister Patterson

Dr Mark Jonathan David Damien Lister Patterson

Chairman of the GLC Covent Garden Committee. Also Chairman of the GLC Viewing Subcommittee, which recommended films for censorship. The Guardian of 7 July 1984 reported that "Dr Mark Patterson, th...

Person, Cinema, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer

Member of the ARP/Civil Defence Services - stretcher bearer. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Jack Bauer was born on 14 March 1907 in Stepney, a son of Louis and Leah Bauer who were...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford

John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford

Born in Essex.  Caught supporting the wrong side when Edward IV assumed the throne, he was arrested and convicted of high treason which led to the loss of his head at Tower Hill.

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
W. F. Crawley
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
S. Empson

S. Empson

Surbiton man killed serving in WW1.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
V. H. Woodruff

V. H. Woodruff

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial