Joseph Allen (Doctor of Medicine)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Allen M.D.  was a prominent eighteenth century physician, surgeon on Lord Anson's circumnavigation of the world, and Master of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich (then colloquially called Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...

).

Lord Anson's circumnavigation

Joseph Allen was born in Ireland in around 1714. He was bred a surgeon and in this capacity accompanied Commodore George Anson
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...

 on his celebrated circumnavigation of the globe
George Anson's voyage around the world
While Great Britain was at war with Spain in 1740, Commodore George Anson led a squadron of eight ships on a mission to disrupt or capture Spain's Pacific possessions...

 from 1740 to 1743.

Dulwich College

On his return from his voyage with Lord Anson, Joseph was elected as Warden of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich on 25 February 1744. He was not in the post for much beyond two years before the Master of the College, James Allen died on the 28 October 1746. Joseph, by virtue of his position as Warden, immediately became Master.

During his time as Master Joseph continued to pursue a medical career and obtained the degree of doctor of medicine from the University of St. Andrew's on 23 April 1754. He was admitted a Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...

 of the College of Physicians on 30 September 1765.

In his capacity as Master of the College, he did little to further Edward Alleyn
Edward Alleyn
Edward Alleyn was an English actor who was a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre and founder of Dulwich College and Alleyn's School.-Early life:...

's (the founder) directions to provide every poor scholar with adequate preparation for the world.

He vacated the office of Master on 21 June 1775 in order to marry a widow, Elizabeth Plaw (marriage at that time being prohibited for the Master of the College, in adherence with Alleyn's statutes).

Later life

On his retirement, his portrait was painted by George Romney
George Romney (painter)
George Romney was an English portrait painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures - including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson....

, and this is still in the possession of Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...

. After his wife's death in 1781 he lived a further 15 years, dying on 10 January 1796 following a few day's illness. He was 82 and was the last known survivor of those who had accompanied Lord Anson. In his will he left £500 to the Asylum, £500 to the Lying-In Hospital and £200 to the Parish of Camberwell to provide coals for the poor in the Hamlet of Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...

.
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