SURGEONS - Eng: 1770-1820

[SantaT]

I believe my ancestor, John Harvey Pierce, to have been a surgeon, rather than a physician.  My question is, at this time, would surgeons have a) worked at a hospital and b) trained at a hospital.  When he lived in London, he apparently lived near St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in the Cripplegate area.

[stanmapstone]

You could try http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a9j/

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Also http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about/history

Stan

[englander8]

I too have an ancestor who is listed as a surgeon on his childrens baptisms and marriages between 1811 and 1838. It appears he may have been a quack as he was selling medicines advertised in northern newspapers that seemed to cure every ailment known to mankind. I would love to find out if he was ever qualified. Do you know what resources may show this?.

[stanmapstone]

Until the mid-19th century surgeons usually served on apprenticeship to a surgeon, and afterwards took an examination, which, in London after 1745, was conducted by the Surgeons’ Company and after 1800 by the Royal College of Surgeons, they were then awarded a diploma, not a degree.  Outside London and the largest cities the surgeon served an apprenticeship like many other tradesmen, but did not necessarily take any examination.

Stan