Nathan Alcock was born at Aston, near Runcorn, Cheshire, England, the second son of David Alcock and his wife Mary née Breck.[1] David Alcock was a descendant of Bishop John Alcock, the founder of Jesus College, Cambridge.[2] He was educated initially by his parents and then at a local school[3] but he left this school, probably because of his dislike of the schoolmaster.[4] He promised his father that he would qualify in medicine in return for a small estate in Wirral, Cheshire, which was worth about £50 a year.[2] He went to medical school at Edinburgh, and then to Leiden where he was taught by Boerhaave and his contemporaries, Gaubius, Albinus, and Gravesand.[4] He graduated M.D. in 1737.[2]
Medical careeredit
He returned to England and went to Oxford University. Here he found that one of the professors in the medical faculty gave no lectures and the other did not reside there. He therefore began to give unauthorised lectures in anatomy and chemistry. This led to opposition from the professors who argued that his theological opinions were unsound. However his lectures were popular with the students and he was supported by eminent people including William Blackstone and Robert Lowth (who was later Bishop of London). In 1741 he was granted the degree of M.A. and was incorporated from Jesus College.[2] He graduated B.M. in 1744, and M.D. in 1749. Also in 1749 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and in 1754 was made Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London.[4]
He built up a large practice in Oxford and became very wealthy.[2] However, possibly because of ill health,[3] or following the death of a woman he intended to marry,[4] he returned to Runcorn. Here he built up a practice as large as his practice had been in Oxford.[2] He died from a stroke in Runcorn in 1779 and was buried in the parish church there.[3]
Politically he was a whig and theologically he was a follower of Bishop Hoadly. His Leiden thesis was on pneumonia. He published nothing during his lifetime but his brother Thomas, vicar of Runcorn, edited and published his The Rise of Mahomet, Accounted for on Natural and Civil Principles in 1796.[4] Also after Nathan's death, in 1780, Thomas Alcock published his biography entitled Some Memoirs of the Life of Dr. Nathan Alcock.[2]
^Starkey, H. F. (1990), Old Runcorn, Halton: Halton Borough Council, p. 52
^ abcdefgNickson, Charles (1887), History of Runcorn, London and Warrington: Mackie & Co, pp. 131–133, OCLC 5389146
^ abcChalmers, Alexander (1812–16), The General Biographical Dictionary: Containing an Historical and Critical Account of the Lives and Writings of the most Eminent Persons in Every Nation; Particularly the British and Irish; from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time, London: Nichols, OCLC 67531963
^ abcdeMoore, Norman, rev. Caroline Overy (2004). "Alcock, Nathan (1709–1779)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/292. Retrieved 28 August 2013.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)(Subscription or UK public library membership required.) ((subscription or UK public library membership required))
January 01, 1970
nathan, alcock, september, 1707, december, 1779, english, physician, frsbornseptember, 1707aston, runcorn, cheshire, englanddied8, december, 1779, 1779, aged, runcornnationalityenglisheducationedinburgh, universityleiden, universityoccupationphysiciantitledoct. Nathan Alcock September 1707 8 December 1779 was an English physician Nathan AlcockFRSBornSeptember 1707Aston Runcorn Cheshire EnglandDied8 December 1779 1779 12 08 aged 72 RuncornNationalityEnglishEducationEdinburgh UniversityLeiden UniversityOccupationPhysicianTitleDoctorEarly life and education editNathan Alcock was born at Aston near Runcorn Cheshire England the second son of David Alcock and his wife Mary nee Breck 1 David Alcock was a descendant of Bishop John Alcock the founder of Jesus College Cambridge 2 He was educated initially by his parents and then at a local school 3 but he left this school probably because of his dislike of the schoolmaster 4 He promised his father that he would qualify in medicine in return for a small estate in Wirral Cheshire which was worth about 50 a year 2 He went to medical school at Edinburgh and then to Leiden where he was taught by Boerhaave and his contemporaries Gaubius Albinus and Gravesand 4 He graduated M D in 1737 2 Medical career editHe returned to England and went to Oxford University Here he found that one of the professors in the medical faculty gave no lectures and the other did not reside there He therefore began to give unauthorised lectures in anatomy and chemistry This led to opposition from the professors who argued that his theological opinions were unsound However his lectures were popular with the students and he was supported by eminent people including William Blackstone and Robert Lowth who was later Bishop of London In 1741 he was granted the degree of M A and was incorporated from Jesus College 2 He graduated B M in 1744 and M D in 1749 Also in 1749 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and in 1754 was made Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians London 4 He built up a large practice in Oxford and became very wealthy 2 However possibly because of ill health 3 or following the death of a woman he intended to marry 4 he returned to Runcorn Here he built up a practice as large as his practice had been in Oxford 2 He died from a stroke in Runcorn in 1779 and was buried in the parish church there 3 Politically he was a whig and theologically he was a follower of Bishop Hoadly His Leiden thesis was on pneumonia He published nothing during his lifetime but his brother Thomas vicar of Runcorn edited and published his The Rise of Mahomet Accounted for on Natural and Civil Principles in 1796 4 Also after Nathan s death in 1780 Thomas Alcock published his biography entitled Some Memoirs of the Life of Dr Nathan Alcock 2 Notes edit nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1885 1900 Dictionary of National Biography s article about Nathan Alcock Starkey H F 1990 Old Runcorn Halton Halton Borough Council p 52 a b c d e f g Nickson Charles 1887 History of Runcorn London and Warrington Mackie amp Co pp 131 133 OCLC 5389146 a b c Chalmers Alexander 1812 16 The General Biographical Dictionary Containing an Historical and Critical Account of the Lives and Writings of the most Eminent Persons in Every Nation Particularly the British and Irish from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time London Nichols OCLC 67531963 a b c d e Moore Norman rev Caroline Overy 2004 Alcock Nathan 1709 1779 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 292 Retrieved 28 August 2013 a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Subscription or UK public library membership required subscription or UK public library membership required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nathan Alcock amp oldid 1220503041, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
