Famous Givers and Their GiftsBolton, Sarah Knowles
History
Famous Givers and Their Gifts
Bolton, Sarah Knowles
Philanthropists
Sir William Withey Gull, the son of a barge-owner and wharfinger in
Essex, who rose to eminence by his power of work and will, was for
twenty years physician and lecturer at Guy's Hospital. Going there as a
student when he was twenty-one, he was told by the treasurer, "I can
help you if you will help yourself." He used to say that his real
education was given him by his sweet-faced mother. He won many prizes,
acted as tutor to gain the means of living, and made friends by his
winsome manner as well as his knowledge. The lady to whom he was engaged
died, but her father was so attached to young Gull that he left him a
considerable legacy. Mr. Gull afterwards married a sister of his friend
Dr. Lacy. He rose rapidly in his profession, and was made F.R.S. in
1869, having been made LL.D. of Oxford and Cambridge the previous year.
His knowledge was profound on many subjects,--poetry, philosophy, and of
course medicine. His industry was astonishing to all, and his personal
influence remarkable. "Not many years ago," says Dr. Wilks, "we heard an
old student of Guy's descant on his beautiful lectures, and especially
those on fever. On being questioned as to what Gull said which most
struck him, he said he could not remember anything in particular, but he
would come to London any day to hear Gull reiterate the words in very
slow measure, 'Now typhoid, gentlemen.' ... When Gull left the bedside
of his patient, and said in measured tones, 'You will get well,' it was
like a message from above.... It was not penetration only which Gull
possessed, but endurance. It was ever being remarked with what
deliberate care he went over every case, as if that particular one was
his sole charge for the day."
Dr. Gull attended the Prince of Wales in his very severe illness from
typhoid fever in 1871, when his life was despaired of; and for this he
was created a baronet, and Physician Extraordinary to the Queen. He died
of apoplexy, Jan. 29, 1890, leaving a fortune of £344,000 (over a
million and a half of dollars), largely earned by his own industry and
ability. His son, Sir Cameron Gull, has founded a studentship of
pathology at Guy's, worth about £150 per annum. Sir William was buried,
by his own desire, in his native village, Thorpe-le-Soken, beside his
father and mother.
Thomas Guy has slept for over a century in the midst of the great work
which his fortune began and still carries forward. Who shall estimate
the good done every year to six thousand suffering persons, mostly poor,
who need the care and skill of a great hospital, and to seventy
thousand, or two hundred daily, who come for medical treatment? The fact
that Thomas Guy became rich through industry, economy, and business
sagacity will be forgotten; the fact that he was a member of Parliament
for thirteen years is of little moment; but the fact that he gave his
wealth to bless the world will be remembered as long as England lasts,
or humanity suffers.
SOPHIA SMITH
AND HER COLLEGE FOR WOMEN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account