Anthony Relhan
Encyclopedia
Dr. Anthony Relhan was a medical doctor and fellow of the King and Queen's College of Physicians of Ireland
, notable for writing a history of Brighton
, and for promoting the drinking of mineral water
.
, where he became a scholar in 1734, and B.A. in 1735. On 15 October 1740 he began to study medicine at Leyden, and on 12 July 1743 graduated M.D. at Dublin. He became a fellow of the King and Queen's College of Physicians of Ireland in October 1747, and was elected president of the college in 1755. Three years later he left Dublin in consequence of disagreements with other fellows of the college as to the propriety of his prescribing the powder called after Robert James, M.D., a remedy of which the composition was kept secret by the proprietor.
He settled as a physician at Brighthelmstone (later called Brighton) in 1759, and in 1761 published A Short History of Brighthelmstone (London, 8vo), then a town of about two thousand inhabitants, of which the main purposes were to give an account of the climate and other advantages of the place as a residence for invalids, and to promote the drinking of mineral waters and seabathing. Relhan's publication led to a substantial increase in public interest in drinking mineral water.
Relhan also authored a treatise on the use of music in medicine, and several other medical publications.
In 1763, having been incorporated M.D. at Cambridge, he became a candidate or member of the College of Physicians of London
, and was elected a fellow on 25 June 1764. In the same year he published 'Refutation of the Reflections [by D. Rust and others] against Inoculation'. He delivered at the College of Physicians the Gulstonian lectures in 1765, and the Harveian Oration
on 18 Oct. 1770. The oration, which is altogether occupied with the praise of Thomas Linacre
and the other benefactors of the college, dwells at some length on the friendship of Erasmus
and Linacre.
Relhan used to reside and practise at Brighton during the bathing season, and from 1758 to 1767, he had an office on Southampton Street in London.
He was twice married, and by his first wife had one son, Richard, and a daughter. His second wife was Lady Hart, widow of Sir William Hart
, a banker. He died in October 1776, and was buried in the Marylebone graveyard in Paddington Street, London.
His son, Richard Relhan
was a fellow of King's College
, and published a renowned account of the plants growing near Cambridge
.
The town of Enfield
, New Hampshire
, was first named "Enfield" by settlers from Enfield, Connecticut
, but the town was renamed "Relhan" in 1766 to honor Dr. Anthony Relhan. Following the Revolution
, the town was renamed "Enfield" in 1784.
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland , was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows...
, notable for writing a history of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, and for promoting the drinking of mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
.
Life
Born in Munster County, Ireland, he was educated at Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, where he became a scholar in 1734, and B.A. in 1735. On 15 October 1740 he began to study medicine at Leyden, and on 12 July 1743 graduated M.D. at Dublin. He became a fellow of the King and Queen's College of Physicians of Ireland in October 1747, and was elected president of the college in 1755. Three years later he left Dublin in consequence of disagreements with other fellows of the college as to the propriety of his prescribing the powder called after Robert James, M.D., a remedy of which the composition was kept secret by the proprietor.
He settled as a physician at Brighthelmstone (later called Brighton) in 1759, and in 1761 published A Short History of Brighthelmstone (London, 8vo), then a town of about two thousand inhabitants, of which the main purposes were to give an account of the climate and other advantages of the place as a residence for invalids, and to promote the drinking of mineral waters and seabathing. Relhan's publication led to a substantial increase in public interest in drinking mineral water.
Relhan also authored a treatise on the use of music in medicine, and several other medical publications.
In 1763, having been incorporated M.D. at Cambridge, he became a candidate or member of the College of Physicians of London
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, and was elected a fellow on 25 June 1764. In the same year he published 'Refutation of the Reflections [by D. Rust and others] against Inoculation'. He delivered at the College of Physicians the Gulstonian lectures in 1765, and the Harveian Oration
Harveian Oration
The Harveian Oration is a yearly lecture held at the Royal College of Physicians of London. It was instituted in 1656 by William Harvey, discoverer of the systemic circulation. Harvey made financial provision for the college to hold an annual feast on St...
on 18 Oct. 1770. The oration, which is altogether occupied with the praise of Thomas Linacre
Thomas Linacre
Thomas Linacre was a humanist scholar and physician, after whom Linacre College, Oxford and Linacre House The King's School, Canterbury are named....
and the other benefactors of the college, dwells at some length on the friendship of Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian....
and Linacre.
Relhan used to reside and practise at Brighton during the bathing season, and from 1758 to 1767, he had an office on Southampton Street in London.
He was twice married, and by his first wife had one son, Richard, and a daughter. His second wife was Lady Hart, widow of Sir William Hart
William Hart
William Hart may refer to:In arts and entertainment:* William Hart , English Caroline actor* William Hart , Scottish-American painter* William Matthew Hart , British lithographer and bird artist...
, a banker. He died in October 1776, and was buried in the Marylebone graveyard in Paddington Street, London.
His son, Richard Relhan
Richard Relhan
Richard Relhan was a botanist, a fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and author of a renowned book about the plants around Cambridge....
was a fellow of King's College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, and published a renowned account of the plants growing near Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
.
The town of Enfield
Enfield, New Hampshire
Enfield is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,582 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Enfield, Enfield Center, Upper Shaker Village, Lower Shaker Village, Lockehaven, and Montcalm....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, was first named "Enfield" by settlers from Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
, but the town was renamed "Relhan" in 1766 to honor Dr. Anthony Relhan. Following the Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the town was renamed "Enfield" in 1784.
Further reading
- The Growth of Brighton, E. W. Gilbert, Geographical Journal, Vol. 114, No. 1/3 (Jul. - Sep., 1949), pp. 30–52
- De Arte Medendi apud priscos musices ope atque carminum epistola ad Antonium Relhan, M.D. Editio altera & auctior. Excudebat J. Nichols; Prostant venales apud J. Bowen, 1783. Pp. 81