The Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London ( RMCS ), created in 1805 as the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, was a learned society of physicians and surgeons , that received a Royal charter in 1834, and a supplement charter in 1907 to create the newly merged Royal Society of Medicine .
8-599: The RMCS was founded in 1805 as the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, by 26 medical men who left the Medical Society of London (founded 1773) in reaction to the autocratic style of its president, James Sims . Among its founders there were William Saunders (1743–1817), its first president; John Yelloly (1774–1842), Sir Astley Cooper (1768–1841), the first treasurer; Alexander Marcet (1770–1822) and Peter Mark Roget (1779–1869). According to its charter,
16-641: A supplement charter was granted by King Edward VII and the new amalgamation became the RSM. The 17 societies which merged with the Medical and Chirurgical Society to form the RSM were: Honorary Fellows of the society included Charles Darwin , Louis Pasteur , Edward Jenner and Sigmund Freud . Other presidents of note were the "three great from Guy's Hospital ", Richard Bright (1837); Thomas Addison (1849) and Sir James Paget (1875), as well as Joseph Hodgson (1851) and Frederick William Pavy (1900). Medical Society of London The Medical Society of London
24-588: Is one of the oldest surviving medical societies (being organisations of voluntary association, rather than regulation or training) in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1773 by the Quaker physician and philanthropist John Coakley Lettsom for physicians, surgeons and apothecaries, who met to exchange medical news and confer about difficult cases. Lettsom served as president of the new society in 1775–1776, 1784–1785, 1809–1811 and 1813–1815. James Sims
32-510: The Royal College of Physicians (to be awarded every five years from 2010). The present prize, founded in 1824, is funded by the will of Anthony Fothergill and prior to 1888 was awarded annually. The original award, sponsored by Lettsom, was introduced in 1787 and awarded until 1803. Source: Source (1787–1902): After the somewhat autocratic 22-year presidency of James Sims, a motion was passed in 1805 that: "No gentlemen be eligible to
40-515: The 18th century, the possession of a valuable library (originally purchased from Sims) and freehold property (donated by Lettsom) helped to ensure the society's success at that time. Originally based in the City of London , it moved in 1873 to its present location in Lettsom House, Chandos Street, near Cavendish Square in the heart of London's medical community. This early 19th-century building
48-459: The Medical and Chirurgical Society of London was founded "for the purpose of conversation on professional subjects, for the reception of communications and for the formation of a library" and served "several branches of the medical profession". It first met on 22 May 1805 at Freemasons' Tavern on Great Queen Street . In 1907 several specialist medical societies merged with the RMCS. On 12 June 1907,
56-529: Was originally owned by the Earl of Gainsborough, and is now also home to several related societies who share the facilities. The library has since been purchased by the Wellcome Trust . The Lettsomian lecture is delivered annually by a fellow of the society. The Fothergillian gold medal , named in honour of physician John Fothergill , Lettsom's patron, is awarded every three years in consultation with
64-533: Was president from 1786 to 1808, and during his long term of office some members of the society, led by William Saunders , became so offended by his autocratic style that in 1805 26 of them formed themselves into a new medical society, the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London , which later merged with other medical specialist societies to form the Royal Society of Medicine . The Society's wide appeal in
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