Martin Wall
Encyclopedia
Martin Wall FRS FRCP (1747– 21 Jun 1824), was an English physician and educator.
Wall was the son of John Wall
and was baptised at Worcester
on 24 June 1747. He was educated at Winchester College
, and entered at New College, Oxford
, on 21 November 1763. He graduated B.A. on 17 June 1770, M.A. on 2 July 1771, M.D. on 9 June 1773, and was a fellow of his college from 1763 to 1778. He studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and in Edinburgh. He began practice at Oxford in 1774, and on 2 November 1775 was elected physician to the Radcliffe Infirmary
. He was appointed reader in chemistry in 1781, and delivered an inaugural dissertation
on the study of chemistry on 7 May 1781, which he printed in 1783, with an essay on the 'Antiquity and Use of Symbols in Astronomy and Chemistry' and 'Observations on the Diseases prevalent in the South Sea Islands'. He drank tea with Dr. Samuel Johnson
at Oxford in June 1784 , and his essay was obviously the origin of the conversation on the advantage of physicians travelling among barbarous nations.
In 1785 he was elected Lichfield professor of clinical medicine at Oxford, an office which he retained till his death. He edited his father's essays in 1780, and in 1786 published 'Clinical Observations on the Use of Opium in Low Fevers, with Remarks on the Epidemic Fever at Oxford in 1785.' The epidemic was typhus. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
on 25 June 1787, delivered their Harveian Oration
in 1788, and in the same year was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He died on 21 June 1824. Boswell speaks of him as 'this learned, ingenious, and pleasing gentleman.' He left a son, Martin Sandys Wall (1785–1871), chaplain in ordinary to the prince regent
and to the British embassy at Vienna.
Wall was the son of John Wall
John Wall (physician)
John Wall , was an English physician, one of the founders of the Worcester Royal Infirmary and the Royal Worcester porcelain works. He was also involved in the development of Malvern as a spa town.-Early life:...
and was baptised at Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
on 24 June 1747. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, and entered at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, on 21 November 1763. He graduated B.A. on 17 June 1770, M.A. on 2 July 1771, M.D. on 9 June 1773, and was a fellow of his college from 1763 to 1778. He studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and in Edinburgh. He began practice at Oxford in 1774, and on 2 November 1775 was elected physician to the Radcliffe Infirmary
Radcliffe Infirmary
The Radcliffe Infirmary was a hospital in central Oxford, England, located at the southern end of Woodstock Road on the western side, backing onto Walton Street. The Radcliffe Infirmary, named after physician John Radcliffe, opened in 1770 and was Oxford's first hospital...
. He was appointed reader in chemistry in 1781, and delivered an inaugural dissertation
Inaugural dissertation
An inaugural dissertation is a presentation of major work by a new professor or doctor, in writing and/or in public speech, to inaugurate their professorship or doctorship. This academic ritual is traditional in much of Europe , although it is becoming less common in some countries and institutions...
on the study of chemistry on 7 May 1781, which he printed in 1783, with an essay on the 'Antiquity and Use of Symbols in Astronomy and Chemistry' and 'Observations on the Diseases prevalent in the South Sea Islands'. He drank tea with Dr. Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
at Oxford in June 1784 , and his essay was obviously the origin of the conversation on the advantage of physicians travelling among barbarous nations.
In 1785 he was elected Lichfield professor of clinical medicine at Oxford, an office which he retained till his death. He edited his father's essays in 1780, and in 1786 published 'Clinical Observations on the Use of Opium in Low Fevers, with Remarks on the Epidemic Fever at Oxford in 1785.' The epidemic was typhus. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
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...
on 25 June 1787, delivered their 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...
in 1788, and in the same year was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He died on 21 June 1824. Boswell speaks of him as 'this learned, ingenious, and pleasing gentleman.' He left a son, Martin Sandys Wall (1785–1871), chaplain in ordinary to the prince regent
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
and to the British embassy at Vienna.