Medical Society of London

Medical Society of London

The Medical Society of London is one of the oldest surviving medical societies in the United Kingdom (the oldest being the Society of Apothecaries of London (1617)).

It was founded in 1773 by the Quaker physician and philanthropist Dr John Coakley Lettsome for physicians, surgeons and apothecaries who met to exchange medical news and confer about difficult cases. Lettsome himself served as president of the new society in 1775-1776, 17841785, 18091811 and 1813-1815. James Sims was president from 1786 to 1808 and during his long term of office some members of the society, led by Sir William Saunders, became so offended by his autocratic style that in 1805 they formed themselves into a new medical society, the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, which later evolved into the Royal Society of Medicine.

The Societys wide appeal, the possession of a valuable library (originally purchased from Sims) and freehold property (donated by Lettsome) has helped to ensure the society's success and longevity.[1] Originally based in the City of London, it moved in 1873 to its present location in Lettsom House, Chandos Street, near Cavendish Square in the heart of Londons medical community. The library has since been purchased by the Wellcome Trust.[2]

The Fothergill gold medal, named in honour of physician John Fothergill, Lettsome's patron, is awarded every three years in consultation with the Royal College of Physicians. The Lettsomian lecture is delivered annually by a fellow of the society.

Fothergill gold medal winners

  • 2002 John E. Sulston
  • 1998 Richard Peto and Rory Collins
  • 1983 Sheila Sherwood
  • 1974 Henry Hubert Grayson Eastcott
  • 1953 Russell Brock
  • 1947 Sir John Parkinson
  • 1914 John George Adami
  • 1902 Sir Patrick Manson
  • 1899 Sydney Arthur Monckton Copeman
  • 1886 John Strahan , The Varieties and Complications of Thyphoid Fever
  • 1883
  • 1878 John Milner Fothergill, The Antagonism of Therapeutic Agents
  • 1858 Thomas Herbert Barker, on Malaria and Aliasmata
  • 1854 Benjamin Ward Richardson
  • 1851 Richard Hodges, Haemorrhage
  • 1844 Henry Pratt Robarts
  • 1842 James Risdon Bennett, Acute Hydrocephalus
  • 1838 George Pilcher, Structure and Pathology of the Ear
  • 1836 Thomas Egerton Bryant, Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea
  • 1824 R.W.Bampfield, Curvatures and Diseases of the Spine
  • 18031823 No award
  • 1790 Robert Willan, on Skin Diseases

Presidents

After the somewhat autocratic 22-year presidency of James Sims a motion was passed in 1805 that :"'No gentlemen be eligible to the office of President or Vice-president for more than two years in succession."

  • ElectStuart Blackie
  • 2010Margaret Spittle
  • 20092010 Lt-Gen Louis Lillywhite
  • 2004Cicely Pearl Blair
  • 19992000 Roy Davies
  • 19881989 Raymond Kirk
  • 19871988 Peter Maxwell Daniel
  • 1984Frank Clifford-Rose
  • 19801981 Sir James Watt
  • 19771978 Sir Francis Avery-Jones
  • 19751976 Alan Woodruff
  • 19741975 D. Geraint James
  • 19641965 John Hunt
  • 1958Sir Cecil Wakeley
  • 19561857 Douglas Guthrie
  • 19411942 Sir Gordon Gordon-Taylor
  • 19331935 Sir John William Thomson-Walker
  • 1926Sir Humphry Rolleston
  • 1916D'Arcy Power
  • 1914Sir John Bland-Sutton
  • 19131914 Sir David Ferrier
  • 1892Sir Jonathan Hutchinson
  • 1890Reginald Harrison
  • 1880Sir William MacCormac
  • 18791880 John Cockle
  • 18781879 Erasmus Wilson
  • 1873Samuel Osborne Habershon
  • 18721873 Thomas Bryant
  • 18711872 Sir Andrew Clark
  • 1869Peter Marshall
  • 18681869 Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson
  • 1865Isaac Baker Brown
  • 1862Francis Sibson
  • 1860Sir Arthur Baring Garrod
  • 1858William Hughes Willshire
  • 1857Francis Hird
  • 1855John Snow
  • 1854Edward Headland
  • 1851 Edward W. Murphy
  • 1850 J. Risdon Bennett
  • 1846Walter Cooper Dendy
  • 1844Theophilus Thompson
  • 1842George Pilcher
  • 1839Leonard Stewart
  • 1837Thomas Egerton Bryant
  • 1835John Whiting
  • 1831John Burne
  • 1825Henry Clutterbuck
  • 18231825 William Shearman
  • 1821David Unwins
  • 1817Thomas Waishman
  • 18131815 John Lettsome
  • 1811George Pinckard
  • 18081811 John Lettsome
  • 17861808 James Sims
  • 17841785 John Lettsome
  • 1779George Edwards
  • 1775-1776 John Lettsome
  • 1773John Millar (first president)

References