Thomas Copeland
Encyclopedia
Thomas Copeland was an eminent British
surgeon
.
(1747–1787), was born in May 1781, studied under Mr. Denham at Chigwell
in Essex, and in London under Edward Ford
, his maternal uncle. He afterwards attended the medical classes in Great Windmill Street and at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. On 6 July 1804, he was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons
, and on the 14th of the same month was appointed an assistant surgeon in the 1st Foot Guards. He embarked with his regiment for Spain under Sir John Moore, and was present at the battle of Corunna
in 1809.
On his return to England and retirement from the army, finding that his uncle was declining practice, Copeland occupied his residence, 4 Golden Square
, and having been appointed surgeon to the Westminster General Dispensary, he at once entered into a large connection, chiefly among the aristocracy.
In 1810 he brought out Observations on the Diseases of the Hip-joint, by E. Ford; edited and revised with additions, by T. Copeland. In the same year he published Observations on some of the principal Diseases of the Rectum, a work which ran to three editions. His new and scientific treatment of these diseases established his reputation and fairly earned for him the distinction of being the founder of rectum surgery. As a consulting surgeon in this class of maladies his opinion in the west end of London was in much request. He was the first to suggest the removal of the septum narium by means of an ingeniously contrived pair of forceps
, in cases where its oblique position obstructed the passage of air through the nostrils.
He was elected a F.R.S. on 6 February 1834, and in 1843 became an honorary F.R.C.S. For a time he was a member of the council of the College of Surgeons, and became surgeon-extraordinary to Queen Victoria in 1837. He removed to 17 Cavendish Square
in 1842, but his health failing him he limited his practice from that period. He was also the author of Observations on the Symptoms and Treatment of the Diseased Spine, more particularly relating to the Incipient Stages, 1815; a second edition appeared in 1818 and the work was translated into several European languages. Among his contributions to professional journals was a paper entitled History of a Case in which a Calculus was voided from a Tumour in the Groin (Trans. Med.-Chir. Soc. iii. 191).
He died from an attack of jaundice
at Brighton
on 19 November 1855. His wife died on 5 December 1855. He left £180,000, bequeathing £5,000 both to the Asylum for Poor Orphans of the Clergy, and to the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical Men.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
.
Life
Copeland, son of the Rev. William Copeland, curate of Byfield, NorthamptonshireByfield, Northamptonshire
Byfield is a village and civil parish forming part of the Daventry district in Northamptonshire, England.- History :Byfield, with Westhorp, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has been close to many of the important events in history. During the Wars of the Roses, in 1469 the battle of Edgecote...
(1747–1787), was born in May 1781, studied under Mr. Denham at Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
in Essex, and in London under Edward Ford
Edward Ford (surgeon)
Edward Ford was a British surgeon.Ford was the son of Thomas Ford, prebendary of St. Decuman, Wells, and vicar of Banwell and of Wookey, Somersetshire, who died 29 Aug of the same year. He received his medical training under Dr. John Ford, then in practice at Bristol...
, his maternal uncle. He afterwards attended the medical classes in Great Windmill Street and at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. On 6 July 1804, he was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons
MRCS is a professional qualification for surgeons in the UK and IrelandIt means Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In the United Kingdom, doctors who gain this qualification traditionally no longer use the title 'Dr' but start to use the title 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or 'Ms'.There are 4 surgical...
, and on the 14th of the same month was appointed an assistant surgeon in the 1st Foot Guards. He embarked with his regiment for Spain under Sir John Moore, and was present at the battle of Corunna
Battle of Corunna
The Battle of Corunna refers to a battle of the Peninsular War. On January 16, 1809, a French army under Marshal Soult attacked the British under Sir John Moore...
in 1809.
On his return to England and retirement from the army, finding that his uncle was declining practice, Copeland occupied his residence, 4 Golden Square
Golden Square
Golden Square, Soho, London in the City of Westminster is one of the historic squares of Central London. The square is just east of Regent Street and north of Piccadilly Circus....
, and having been appointed surgeon to the Westminster General Dispensary, he at once entered into a large connection, chiefly among the aristocracy.
In 1810 he brought out Observations on the Diseases of the Hip-joint, by E. Ford; edited and revised with additions, by T. Copeland. In the same year he published Observations on some of the principal Diseases of the Rectum, a work which ran to three editions. His new and scientific treatment of these diseases established his reputation and fairly earned for him the distinction of being the founder of rectum surgery. As a consulting surgeon in this class of maladies his opinion in the west end of London was in much request. He was the first to suggest the removal of the septum narium by means of an ingeniously contrived pair of forceps
Forceps
Forceps or forcipes are a handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task. The term 'forceps' is used almost exclusively...
, in cases where its oblique position obstructed the passage of air through the nostrils.
He was elected a F.R.S. on 6 February 1834, and in 1843 became an honorary F.R.C.S. For a time he was a member of the council of the College of Surgeons, and became surgeon-extraordinary to Queen Victoria in 1837. He removed to 17 Cavendish Square
Cavendish Square
Cavendish Square is a public square in the West End of London, very close to Oxford Circus, where the two main shopping thoroughfares of Oxford Street and Regent Street meet. It is located at the eastern end of Wigmore Street, which connects it to Portman Square, part of the Portman Estate, to its...
in 1842, but his health failing him he limited his practice from that period. He was also the author of Observations on the Symptoms and Treatment of the Diseased Spine, more particularly relating to the Incipient Stages, 1815; a second edition appeared in 1818 and the work was translated into several European languages. Among his contributions to professional journals was a paper entitled History of a Case in which a Calculus was voided from a Tumour in the Groin (Trans. Med.-Chir. Soc. iii. 191).
He died from an attack of jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
at 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...
on 19 November 1855. His wife died on 5 December 1855. He left £180,000, bequeathing £5,000 both to the Asylum for Poor Orphans of the Clergy, and to the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical Men.