Thomas Vicary

Thomas Vicary (c. 1490—1561) was an early English physician, surgeon and anatomist.

Thomas Vicary

Vicary was born in Kent, in about 1490. He was described as "but a meane practiser in Maidstone … that had gained his knowledge by experience, until the King advanced him for curing his sore leg"[1] Henry VIII advanced him to the position of sergeant-surgeon to the Royal Household; and he became a leading surgeon in the City of London becoming the first master of the Company of Barber-Surgeons and again on three further occasions. He played a leading role in the 1540 Act of Union of the two guilds, appearing in Hans Holbein the Younger's painting showing the King handing the charter to Vicary himself.[2] Vicary obtained an annual right to the cadavers of four executed criminals for the Barber-Surgeons, and established the first formal teaching of anatomy at their hall.[3]

In 1546, he was appointed the first superintendent of St Bartholomew's Hospital.[4] In 1548, he was appointed resident surgical governor of St Bartholomew's Hospital, a post he held until his death. On Henry's death he continued to serve the Tudor monarchs as physician.

One of the earliest works in anatomy was attributed to him, The anatomy of mans body; but it appears he republished and edited an earlier work of the Middle Ages.[1]

The Royal College of Surgeons maintains an annual lecture in his honour.

Works
  • The Englisheman's Treasure (1586)[5]

See also

References
  1. Thomas Vicary and the Anatomie of Mans Body Duncan P Thomas (Journal of Medical History 2006 April 1; 50(2): 235–246)
  2. In the collection of the National Portrait Gallery (London) (NPG D11098).
  3. Anatomy and the Anatomy Theatre (Barber Hall history) accessed 1 February 2009
  4. St Bartholomew's Hospital. Old and New London: Volume 2 (1878), pp. 359–363. Date. Retrieved 31 January 2009
  5. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anatomy" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 930.


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