John, a most learned English physician and writer of the 18th century, was born at Croton, Northamptonshire, in 1675. In 1696, he published, in conjunction with Mr P. Foulkes, an edition of two Greek orations, one of Alcinous against Ctesiphon, and the other of Demosthenes de Corona, with a new Latin version. In 1699, he wrote a letter to Dr Solane concerning an Hydrocephalus, published in the Philosophical Transactions; and another letter in Latin to the same gentleman, De Ipsmis rarior, historia, printed in the same Transactions. In 1703, his Ennemonologia appeared, which gained him great reputation. In 1724, he was chosen professor of chemistry in the university of Oxford. In 1705 he attended the earl of Peterborough to Spain, as physician to the army there; and, upon his return in 1707, published an account of the earl's expedition and conduct. In 1719 he published his Chemical Lectures. In 1712 he attended the duke of Ormond in Flanders, as his physician. In 1716 he was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians in London. This year he published the first and third books of Hippocrates De morbis popularibus, with a Commentary on Fevers, written by himself. He sat member for the borough of Launceston in Cornwall in 1722, where he distinguished himself by his opposition to the administration. March 1722, he was committed to the Tower on a charge of high treason; and while he was under confinement, he wrote a Latin epistle to Dr Mead, de quibusdam variolarum generibus; and began his History of Physic, the first part of which was published in 1725, and the second in 1726. Upon the accession of George II. to the throne, he was appointed physician in ordinary to the queen, who showed the utmost regard and esteem for him. He died at London in 1738. His works were published together in Latin at London, 1733, in folio, and dedicated to the queen.