DICKINSON (Edmund), a celebrated English physician and chemist, born in 1624. He studied and took
Dictamner, took his degrees at Merton-college, Oxford; and in 1655 published there his Delphi Phanicrantes, &c. a most learned piece, in which he attempted to prove, that the Greeks borrowed the story of the Pythian Apollo, and all that rendered the oracle at Delphi famous, from the Holy Scriptures, and the book of Joshua in particular: a work that procured him great reputation both at home and abroad. He practiced physic first at Oxford; but removing to London in 1684, his good fortune in recovering the earl of Arlington from a dangerous sickness, procured his promotion to be physician in ordinary to Charles II. and to his household. As that prince understood and loved chemistry, Dr. Dickinson grew into great favour at court; and was continued in his appointments under James II. After the abdication of his unfortunate master, being then in years, and afflicted with the stone, he retired from practice, and died in 1707. He published many other things, particularly Physica vetus & nova, &c. containing a system of philosophy chiefly framed on principles collected from the Mosaic history.