HUNTER (Dr William), a celebrated anatomist, was a native of Kilberge in the county of Lanark in Scotland. Being designed by his father for the church, he was sent, at a proper age, to the college of Glasgow: But having spent five years in regular academical attendance there, he began to feel strong objections to theological studies; and happening to become acquainted with Dr Cullen, who was at that time just established in practice at Hamilton, he was per-
suaded to apply himself to physic. Dr Cullen's friendship made it easy to obtain his father's consent. He was taken into the Doctor's house, where he spent two of the happiest years of his life. In Scotland (if we except Edinburgh) there is not that distinction between the branches of physic that prevails in England. The physicians generally dispense their own medicines, and likewise practise surgery. Dr Cullen, though an enthusiastic cultivator of physic and chemistry, had always a dislike to the chirurgic part of his practice. It was therefore agreed between him and Mr Hunter, that the latter should go first to the college at Edinburgh, and then to London, in order to see the practice of the hospitals, and improve himself in anatomy and surgery, and that at his return to Hamilton a partnership should take place between them. Mr Hunter brought with him to London a letter of introduction to his countryman Dr James Douglas, at that time in high reputation as a physician and midwife, and well known by his “Treatise on the Muscles,” and other works. Dr Douglas advised him to attend St George's Hospital, and Dr Nichols's lectures, as a perpetual pupil, for the opportunity of learning all his arts in making anatomical preparations. At the end of the season, when he was preparing to set out on his return to Hamilton, Dr Douglas persuaded him to change his proposed plan; to assist him in his anatomical pursuits; to accompany his son, at that time a student in physic, to Paris and Holland; and afterwards to settle in London, and to teach anatomy. Mr Hunter communicated this proposal, and the arguments which Dr Douglas had used, to Dr Cullen; who, thinking it a fairer prospect, with his usual generosity readily gave his consent. After the death of his patron Dr Douglas, Mr Hunter began to teach anatomy in London. His easy, agreeable manner of lecturing, the new and clear points of view in which he placed the different parts of his subject, added to the number and elegance of his preparations, drew to him a great number of pupils. He soon became eminent in his profession, and enriched the art with many important discoveries. In or about 1747, Mr Hunter was admitted a member of the Surgeon's company. His anatomical reputation soon procured him an extensive practice, particularly in midwifery; and when he came to be established, the university of Glasgow complimented him with the degree of M. D. In 1756 he was admitted a member of the College of Physicians; and soon afterwards was elected F. R. S. having made himself known by an ingenious paper “on the Structure of Cartilages,” published in the Phil. Trans. so early as 1743. He since, at different times, communicated several other valuable papers to the society. When the present queen became pregnant, Dr Hunter was consulted, and at the same time honoured with the appointment of physician-extraordinary to her majesty. When the Royal Academy of Arts was founded, he was nominated professor of anatomy to that institution; and lately, upon the death of one of the eight foreign associates of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, he was elected to supply the vacancy. To consider him as a teacher, is to view him in his most amiable character: perspicuity, unaffected modesty, and a desire of being useful, were his peculiar characteristics; and,
and, of all others, he was most happy in blending the utile with the dulce, by introducing apposite and pleasing stories to illustrate and enliven the more abstruse and jejune parts of anatomy; thus fixing the attention of the volatile and the giddy, and enriching the minds of all with useful knowledge. Employed as Dr Hunter had been, for a long series of years, by persons of the highest rank in this country, and consulted as an anatomist in difficult cases of surgery by all ranks of people and from every part of the kingdom, his gains must have been immense; and he employed them in a manner of all others the most liberal, the improvement of science. Having never married, and being averse to ostentation and luxury, he always conducted his domestic expenses on a plan adapted to his profession; and his accumulated fees were expended in erecting and furnishing a museum, which, considered in every point of view, is certainly not to be equalled in Europe. It is unnecessary to say any thing of the anatomical varieties it contains, because it will be easily conceived, that a person of the Doctor's disposition, who had spent near half a century in the pursuit of a favourite object, must have amassed every thing that is curious and valuable on that subject. But the specimens of human and comparative anatomy form only a small part of the Hunterian Museum. The collection of scarce and valuable books is to be equalled only by royal libraries; and his cabinet of medals, particularly Greek and Roman, is far more valuable than the Imperial collection at Vienna. The expense of building his house and museum in Windmill-street, and furnishing the latter, is said to have approached near to 100,000. His Plates of the Gravid Uterus, and his other publications, sufficiently evince his profound knowledge and unwearied industry; and the description of his Greek coins his boundless munificence. It is much to be feared that the other works he had in hand at the time of his death are left too incomplete for the public eye. His museum, the most comprehensive and select of any individual's in Europe, was left for thirty years to his sister's son, Mr Bailey. If during the above-
mentioned period of 30 years Mr Bailey should die, the property of the museum for the remainder of the period devolves to Mr Cruikshank. At the conclusion of the period of 30 years, the entire museum, without any participation or entail whatever, is bequeathed to the university of Glasgow. The sum of 4000l. sterling is left, with the interest from time to time growing on it, for the support and augmentation of the collection. His brother, Mr John Hunter, the surgeon, on account of some difference between them, is not named in the will. The executors are, Dr Pitcairn, Mr Coombe apothecary (the Doctor's learned coadjutor in his literary labours), and Dr Fordyce of Essex-street; to each of whom Dr Hunter has left a legacy of 20l. a-year, during the period in which they will be executing the purposes of the will. Making a pecuniary estimate of the museum in question, 70,000l. is said to be the sum it is worth. Besides that, the Doctor was possessed of above 20,000l. in money; the bulk of which is given to Mr Bailey. We are credibly informed, that the Doctor formerly applied to the ministers of this country to allot him a piece of ground, on which he might build a museum, that he would engage to leave endowed for the public service. His request, however, was not complied with; and he then purchased the premises in Great Windmill-street, where he built his museum and spacious habitation. He died 30th April 1783, of the gout in his stomach.