The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhoodDavis, Henry George
History
The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhood
Davis, Henry George
Knightsbridge (London, England)
The allusion of Pope to the dancing propensities of this nobleman is
curiously borne out by the fact, that when Prince George of Denmark died
he sought an interview with the widowed Queen, and advised her to dispel
her grief by following his favourite amusement. Not till disabled
entirely by the gout did he give up this relaxation. The “Golden
Gallery” around the dome of St. Paul’s was gilded at his expense.
Lanesborough House was of red brick, three storeys high, with one small
doorway, approached by three or four steps to the centre; the new
authorities added two wings, also of red brick, and on January 1st, 1734,
the institution was opened, having been established on October 19th,
1733.
One of those who took a leading part in this foundation was John Allen,
apothecary to the household of George I., George II., and George III.
successively. He remained a governor till his death, on March 17th,
1774. Another staunch supporter was the celebrated anatomist, Cheselden,
the friend of Pope and other literary men. Some of his greatest
operations were performed here. He was also surgeon to Chelsea Hospital,
and in its graveyard lies buried.
The hospital gradually increased in wealth and usefulness, till in 1784
the governors issued advertisements asking for increased aid to prevent
its decay. This arose from the fact that a large legacy left by a Mrs.
Crayle caused an idea to be spread abroad that further aid of this kind
was hardly wanted. Its legacies had been a main source of income; they
now fell off, and the Crayle bequest being reversionary, the income
rapidly fell, and at Christmas, 1783, the institution was above £1,900 in
debt; but a third of the profits of the Handel Festival held in
Westminster Abbey in 1784 enabled the governors to overcome their
difficulties.
The celebrated John Hunter was one of the eminent men who have been
connected with St. George’s Hospital. He was appointed surgeon in 1768,
and always took an active part in its management. Here on October 16th,
1793, his life was suddenly terminated. He had long disputed a matter of
right with his colleagues, and in an altercation he was flatly
contradicted, when a trifling address might have turned aside the
quarrel. He rushed into an adjoining room and there fell into the arms
of Dr. Robertson, one of the physicians, and his life was gone in an
instant.
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