Sir Charles Locock, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Locock, 1st Baronet (1799–1875) was an obstetrician to Queen Victoria. He is also credited with the introduction of potassium bromide
as a treatment for epilepsy
.
Locock was born on 21 April 1799 to Henry Locock and his wife Susannah Smyth in Northampton
. He studied under Benjamin Brodie and Andrew Duncan
, graduating from medical school at Edinburgh University in 1821. Locock became a licensed doctor of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1823 and a fellow in 1836. He opened his own obstetrical practice, which became the largest in London. In 1840 he became the first obstetrician to Queen Victoria, and was the attending doctor for the births of her children. He published an 1857 paper in The Lancet
outlining the use of potassium bromide as a treatment for epilepsy.
In 1860 Locock had a key role in the sensational judicial case known as The Eastbourne manslaughter
. It was Locock who conducted the autopsy establishing that the 15-year-old Reginald Cancellor had died as the result of corporal punishment at the hands of his teacher, Thomas Hopley - which led to Hopley being eventually sent to four years in prison on charges of manslaughter.
Locock married Amelia Lewis on 5 August 1826; the couple had five sons. He retired from medicine in 1857 and was created a baronet. He also became the 26th president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society. Locock became involved in politics, acting as a justice of the peace for Kent
and running as a Conservative candidate for the Isle of Wight
in the 1864 election (he lost). He died on 23 July 1875.
Potassium bromide
Potassium bromide is a salt, widely used as an anticonvulsant and a sedative in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with over-the-counter use extending to 1975 in the United States. Its action is due to the bromide ion...
as a treatment for epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
.
Locock was born on 21 April 1799 to Henry Locock and his wife Susannah Smyth in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. He studied under Benjamin Brodie and Andrew Duncan
Andrew Duncan
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, GBE was a British businessman who was brought into government during the Second World War, serving twice as both President of the Board of Trade and Minister of Supply....
, graduating from medical school at Edinburgh University in 1821. Locock became a licensed doctor 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...
in 1823 and a fellow in 1836. He opened his own obstetrical practice, which became the largest in London. In 1840 he became the first obstetrician to Queen Victoria, and was the attending doctor for the births of her children. He published an 1857 paper in The Lancet
The Lancet
The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal. It is one of the world's best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals...
outlining the use of potassium bromide as a treatment for epilepsy.
In 1860 Locock had a key role in the sensational judicial case known as The Eastbourne manslaughter
Eastbourne manslaughter
The Eastbourne manslaughter was an 1860 legal case in Eastbourne, England, concerning the death of 15-year-old Reginald Cancellor at the hands of his teacher, Thomas Hopley...
. It was Locock who conducted the autopsy establishing that the 15-year-old Reginald Cancellor had died as the result of corporal punishment at the hands of his teacher, Thomas Hopley - which led to Hopley being eventually sent to four years in prison on charges of manslaughter.
Locock married Amelia Lewis on 5 August 1826; the couple had five sons. He retired from medicine in 1857 and was created a baronet. He also became the 26th president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society. Locock became involved in politics, acting as a justice of the peace for Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and running as a Conservative candidate for the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in the 1864 election (he lost). He died on 23 July 1875.