Francis Boott
Encyclopedia
Francis Boott was an American physician
and botanist who was resident in Great Britain
from 1820.
, the brother of Kirk Boott
, one of the founders of Lowell, Massachusetts
. He entered Harvard College
in 1806 and graduated in 1810 with
Aged 19 he moved to Derby
in England
apparently with the intention of becoming a merchant
, where he spent three years, and became interested in botany, through the influence of Lucy Hardcastle (who may have been an extramarital daughter of Erasmus Darwin
). He returned to America in 1814 where he studied botany.
He returned to Britain in 1820 to study medicine, initially in London but later at Edinburgh University, gaining an MD in 1824. In 1820 he married Mary Hardcastle, daughter of John Hardcastle and the aforementioned Lucy Hardcastle. He practised medicine in London
between 1825 and 1832. He conducted his own experiments and lectured on botany. Between 1832 and 1839 he was secretary of the Linnean Society.
He retained his interest in medicine and wrote to The Lancet in 1846 when he heard from his friend Jacob Bigelow about the use of ether as an anaesthetic in America. The first use of ether as an anaesthetic in Britain (for a dental procedure) was in his house at 24 Gower Street on 19 December 1846. This is commemorated by a plaque on the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which now stands on the site. A few days later a surgical operation under ether was carried out by Robert Liston at University College Hospital nearby.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and botanist who was resident in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
from 1820.
Biography
Boott was born in Boston, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the brother of Kirk Boott
Kirk Boott
Kirk Boott was an American Industrialist instrumental in the early history of Lowell, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
, one of the founders of Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. He entered Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1806 and graduated in 1810 with
Aged 19 he moved to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
apparently with the intention of becoming a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, where he spent three years, and became interested in botany, through the influence of Lucy Hardcastle (who may have been an extramarital daughter of Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin was an English physician who turned down George III's invitation to be a physician to the King. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave trade abolitionist,inventor and poet...
). He returned to America in 1814 where he studied botany.
He returned to Britain in 1820 to study medicine, initially in London but later at Edinburgh University, gaining an MD in 1824. In 1820 he married Mary Hardcastle, daughter of John Hardcastle and the aforementioned Lucy Hardcastle. He practised medicine in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
between 1825 and 1832. He conducted his own experiments and lectured on botany. Between 1832 and 1839 he was secretary of the Linnean Society.
He retained his interest in medicine and wrote to The Lancet in 1846 when he heard from his friend Jacob Bigelow about the use of ether as an anaesthetic in America. The first use of ether as an anaesthetic in Britain (for a dental procedure) was in his house at 24 Gower Street on 19 December 1846. This is commemorated by a plaque on the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which now stands on the site. A few days later a surgical operation under ether was carried out by Robert Liston at University College Hospital nearby.