William Wadd
Encyclopedia
William Wadd was a 19th century British surgeon and medical author.
Wadd, the eldest son of Solomon Wadd (d. 1821), a surgeon, who lived and practised for more than half a century in Basinghall Street, London, was born on 1776, and was entered at Merchant Taylor’s school
late in 1784. He was apprenticed to Sir James Earle
in 1797, and thus became one of the privileged class of surgeon’s pupils at St Bartholomew's Hospital
. He was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons
on 18 December 1801, and in 1816 he contested the post of assistant-surgeon to St Bartholomew’s Hospital when John Painter Vincent was elected. He was chosen a member of the College of Surgeons of England in 1824, and was appointed a member of the court of examiners in succession to John Abernethy
on 3 August 1829. He was appointed one of the surgeons extraordinary to George IV on 30 March 1821.
He was killed instantaneously on 29 August 1829 in Killarney
, Kerry
in by jumping off a runaway carriage on the road from Killarney to Mitchelstown
while he was making a holiday tour in the south of Ireland. At the time of his death he was a fellow of the Linnean Society of London
, and an associate of the Société de Médecine of Paris.
A man of high talents, Wadd had a rich fund of anecdote. He was an excellent draughtsman, and learnt etching to such good effect that the illustrations in his own works are all the products of his own needle. He married on 5 July 1806, Caroline Mackenzie, who survived him and by her had two children — a son who was drowned at Mauritius in March 1828, and a daughter.
A life-size half-length in oils, painted by John Jackson
, was in the secretary’s office at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields [c. 1900].
Wadd, the eldest son of Solomon Wadd (d. 1821), a surgeon, who lived and practised for more than half a century in Basinghall Street, London, was born on 1776, and was entered at Merchant Taylor’s school
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
late in 1784. He was apprenticed to Sir James Earle
James Earle
Sir James Earle was a celebrated British surgeon, renowned for his skill in lithotomy.Earle was born in London. After studying medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, he became the institution's assistant surgeon in 1770. Due to the temporary incapacity of one of the hospital's surgeons, Earle...
in 1797, and thus became one of the privileged class of surgeon’s pupils at St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
. He was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
on 18 December 1801, and in 1816 he contested the post of assistant-surgeon to St Bartholomew’s Hospital when John Painter Vincent was elected. He was chosen a member of the College of Surgeons of England in 1824, and was appointed a member of the court of examiners in succession to John Abernethy
John Abernethy (surgeon)
John Abernethy FRS was an English surgeon, grandson of the Reverend John Abernethy.He was born in Coleman Street in the City of London, where his father was a merchant. Educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School, he was apprenticed in 1779 to Sir Charles Blicke , a surgeon at St Bartholomew's...
on 3 August 1829. He was appointed one of the surgeons extraordinary to George IV on 30 March 1821.
He was killed instantaneously on 29 August 1829 in Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
, Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
in by jumping off a runaway carriage on the road from Killarney to Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 3300. Mitchelstown is situated in the valley to the south of the Galtee Mountains close to the Mitchelstown Caves and is 28 km from Cahir, 50 km from Cork and 59 km from Limerick...
while he was making a holiday tour in the south of Ireland. At the time of his death he was a fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, and an associate of the Société de Médecine of Paris.
A man of high talents, Wadd had a rich fund of anecdote. He was an excellent draughtsman, and learnt etching to such good effect that the illustrations in his own works are all the products of his own needle. He married on 5 July 1806, Caroline Mackenzie, who survived him and by her had two children — a son who was drowned at Mauritius in March 1828, and a daughter.
A life-size half-length in oils, painted by John Jackson
John Jackson (painter)
John Jackson was an English painter.Jackson was born in Lastingham, Yorkshire, and started his career as an apprentice tailor to his father, who opposed the artistic ambitions of his son...
, was in the secretary’s office at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields [c. 1900].
Works
- Practical observations on the nature and cure of Strictures in the Urethra London, 1809, 8vo: 2nd ed. 1811; reissued 1812; 3rd ed. 1826.
- Cursory Remarks on Corpulence London, 1810, 8vo, issued anonymously; 3rd ed. 1816;
- reissued in an enlarged form as: Comments on Corpulency, Lineaments of Leanness, Mems on Diet and Dietetics London, 1829, 8vo. The etchings in this volume remind one of George CruikshankGeorge CruikshankGeorge Cruikshank was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. His book illustrations for his friend Charles Dickens, and many other authors, reached an international audience.-Early life:Cruikshank was born in London...
.- Cases of Diseased Bladder and Testicle London, 1815, 4to, with twenty-one plates; reissued 1817.
- Cases of Diseased Prepuce and Scrotum London, 1817, 4to, with twelve plates.
- On Malformations and Diseases of the Head London, 1819, 4to, with eleven plates.
- Illustrations of Morbid Anatomy London, 1824, fol. with seventy-eight plates.
- The original drawings are in the Royal College of Surgeons of England. There is no letterpress attacked to the work beyond the title-page.
- This is the work by which Wadd’s name is best known. The nucleus of the collection of portraits was presented to him about 1814 by Henry FauntleroyHenry FauntleroyHenry Fauntleroy was an English banker and forger, the last to be hanged for forgery in the United Kingdom....
, the banker, who was hanged for forgery. The catalogue is arranged under two alphabets — one of anecdoted biographies, the other of memorabilia. The work is excellent reading, but it is full of inaccuracies both of dates and names.- Nugæ Canoræ, or Epitaphian Mementoes (in stone-cutters’ verse) of the Medici Family, by Unus Quorum London, 1827, 8vo.
- Mems, Maxims, and Memoirs London, 1827, 8vo.
- Both volumes contain a miscellany of things medical, and to the history of medicine and surgery in England. Many have utilised them, but few have acknowledged their indebtedness. They show a wide reading, but are thoroughly uncritical.