William Rand (physician)
Encyclopedia
William Rand was an English physician who projected general reforms in medical education, practice and publication. His views were Paracelsian and Helmontian, and he participated in the Hartlib Circle
.
, connected to the Evelyn family. William Rand studied medicine at the University of Louvain. It has been suggested also, by Charles Webster, that he was a Cambridge graduate, and son of the apothecary James Rand, matching him rather tentatively to the William Rand who matriculated at Catharine Hall, Cambridge in 1633; this Rand studied at the University of Leiden, though was M.D. of another institution. In any case Rand was unlicensed by the London College of Physicians. He worked as an apothecary to the parliamentary hospital at Ely House
.
In 1652 he addressed thoughts to Samuel Hartlib
on reform of the book trade. Natural philosophers found it difficult to get into print, and booksellers were rapacious. Rand suggested a way round the stationers' monopoly, with a system of scholarly licensing.
In 1656 he contributed to the programme of Hartlib and Robert Boyle
for the reform of science, advocating the establishment of a College of Graduate Physicians. The project had the support of Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh
, who was Boyle's sister. A proposal for a Society of Chemical Physicians of the 1660s, again Helmontian in attitude, for a while gathered some momentum. Charles Webster has argued for some continuity from Rand's group to the 1665 group behind the Society of Chemical Physicians; but the latter had notable court patronage too placing it in a very different part of the political spectrum, as well as being open to those without medical degrees.
has tentatively been identified as Rand. He translated a work of the apothecary Remeus Francken on surgery (1655). In 1657 he published a translation of Pierre Gassendi
's life of Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc , as The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility, with John Evelyn
as dedicatee.
An English translation of the Encheiridium anatomicum et pathologicum (1648) by Johannes Riolanus, as A sure guide, or, The best and nearest way to physick and chyrurgery (1671), was by Nicholas Culpeper
and W. R., who is identified as Rand. Culpeper died in 1654, and, with William Rowland, Rand in the 1650s was active in editorial work and translation of Culpeper's papers. At the same time they were supporters of the medical initiatives of William Walwyn
.
He was an admirer of Machiavelli. Rand expressed admiration also for Thomas Hobbes
in a letter to Hartlib in 1651, finding in him a Protestant comparable in creative ideas to the Catholic Kenelm Digby
. Rand also thought Hobbes a royalist, but (against opinion in the universities) a potentially excellent adviser on education. Hartlib would include Rand's name in a list for a "council for schooling", with John Milton
and others. Writing to Hartlib from the Netherlands
in 1653, Rand proposed a synthesis of the systems of Gassendi and van Helmont.
Rand's correspondence with Evelyn shows Rand's mortalist views, to which Evelyn found some attraction. Rand's views are also known from his comment on the courage required by Henry Lawrence
to publish on adult baptism (Of Baptisme, Rotterdam 1646, initially anonymous). A letter of Rand to Benjamin Worsley
is positive about Socinianism
.
Hartlib Circle
The Hartlib Circle refers primarily to the correspondence network set up in Western and Central Europe by Samuel Hartlib, an intelligencer based in London, and his associates, in the period 1630 to 1660.-Structure:J. T. Young writes:...
.
Life
According to Gillian Darley, Rand's father was a physician at Wotton, SurreyWotton, Surrey
Wotton is a small village located on the A25 between Guildford in the west and Dorking in the east. Neighbouring villages include: the Abingers of Abinger Common, Sutton Abinger, and Abinger Hammer; Friday Street and Westcott...
, connected to the Evelyn family. William Rand studied medicine at the University of Louvain. It has been suggested also, by Charles Webster, that he was a Cambridge graduate, and son of the apothecary James Rand, matching him rather tentatively to the William Rand who matriculated at Catharine Hall, Cambridge in 1633; this Rand studied at the University of Leiden, though was M.D. of another institution. In any case Rand was unlicensed by the London College of Physicians. He worked as an apothecary to the parliamentary hospital at Ely House
Ely Place
Ely Place is a gated road at the southern tip of the London Borough of Camden in London, England. It is the location of the Old Mitre Tavern and is adjacent to Hatton Garden.-Origins:...
.
In 1652 he addressed thoughts to Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib was a German-British polymath. An active promoter and expert writer in many fields, he was interested in science, medicine, agriculture, politics, and education. He settled in England, where he married and died...
on reform of the book trade. Natural philosophers found it difficult to get into print, and booksellers were rapacious. Rand suggested a way round the stationers' monopoly, with a system of scholarly licensing.
In 1656 he contributed to the programme of Hartlib and Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
for the reform of science, advocating the establishment of a College of Graduate Physicians. The project had the support of Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh
Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh
Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh was a leading Anglo-Irish intellectual in London of the Interregnum period. She was sister to Robert Boyle, and in her own right a political and social figure closely connected to the Hartlib Circle.-Life:...
, who was Boyle's sister. A proposal for a Society of Chemical Physicians of the 1660s, again Helmontian in attitude, for a while gathered some momentum. Charles Webster has argued for some continuity from Rand's group to the 1665 group behind the Society of Chemical Physicians; but the latter had notable court patronage too placing it in a very different part of the political spectrum, as well as being open to those without medical degrees.
Works
The W. R. writing a dedicatory poem to the Mataeotechnia medicinae praxeos (1651) of Noah BiggsNoah Biggs
Noah Biggs was an English medical reformer and alchemical writer of the middle of the seventeenth century. In his Chymiatrophilos, mataeotechnia medicinae praxes: The Vanity of the Craft of Physick, from 1651, he attacked pretentious and quack medical theories of his time. He also implied that...
has tentatively been identified as Rand. He translated a work of the apothecary Remeus Francken on surgery (1655). In 1657 he published a translation of Pierre Gassendi
Pierre Gassendi
Pierre Gassendi was a French philosopher, priest, scientist, astronomer, and mathematician. With a church position in south-east France, he also spent much time in Paris, where he was a leader of a group of free-thinking intellectuals. He was also an active observational scientist, publishing the...
's life of Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc , as The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility, with John Evelyn
John Evelyn
John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time John Evelyn (31 October 1620 – 27 February...
as dedicatee.
An English translation of the Encheiridium anatomicum et pathologicum (1648) by Johannes Riolanus, as A sure guide, or, The best and nearest way to physick and chyrurgery (1671), was by Nicholas Culpeper
Nicholas Culpeper
Nicholas Culpeper was an English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer. His published books include The English Physician and the Complete Herbal , which contain a rich store of pharmaceutical and herbal knowledge, and Astrological Judgement of Diseases from the Decumbiture of the Sick ,...
and W. R., who is identified as Rand. Culpeper died in 1654, and, with William Rowland, Rand in the 1650s was active in editorial work and translation of Culpeper's papers. At the same time they were supporters of the medical initiatives of William Walwyn
William Walwyn
William Walwyn was an English pamphleteer, a Leveller and a medical practitioner.Walwyn was a silkman in London who took the parliamentary side in the English Civil War. He advocated religious toleration and emerged as a leader of the Levellers in 1647 which led to his imprisonment in 1649...
.
Views
Rand's views are available in correspondence, with Hartlib and others.He was an admirer of Machiavelli. Rand expressed admiration also for Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury , in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy...
in a letter to Hartlib in 1651, finding in him a Protestant comparable in creative ideas to the Catholic Kenelm Digby
Kenelm Digby
Sir Kenelm Digby was an English courtier and diplomat. He was also a highly reputed natural philosopher, and known as a leading Roman Catholic intellectual and Blackloist. For his versatility, Anthony à Wood called him the "magazine of all arts".-Early life and career:He was born at Gayhurst,...
. Rand also thought Hobbes a royalist, but (against opinion in the universities) a potentially excellent adviser on education. Hartlib would include Rand's name in a list for a "council for schooling", with John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
and others. Writing to Hartlib from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1653, Rand proposed a synthesis of the systems of Gassendi and van Helmont.
Rand's correspondence with Evelyn shows Rand's mortalist views, to which Evelyn found some attraction. Rand's views are also known from his comment on the courage required by Henry Lawrence
Henry Lawrence (President of the Council)
Henry Lawrence was an English statesman who served as President of the English Council of State during the Protectorate.Lawrence was brought up as a Puritan, and educated at Queens' College, Cambridge and then Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he became an MA in 1627...
to publish on adult baptism (Of Baptisme, Rotterdam 1646, initially anonymous). A letter of Rand to Benjamin Worsley
Benjamin Worsley
Benjamin Worsley was an English physician, Surveyor-General of Ireland, experimental scientist, civil servant and intellectual figure of Commonwealth England. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, but may not have graduated....
is positive about Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
.