RICHARD, a physician of considerable reputation, was born in Somersetshire, August 11th, 1722. He was educated at Ballytore, in Ireland, studied medicine at Edinburgh, and finally graduated at Leyden in 1745. In 1751 he was admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians at London, of which he afterwards became a fellow. In 1758 he was appointed physician to the army; in which capacity he served in Germany during the greater part of the seven years' war, and in the course of it was chosen physician to the hospitals for British forces. The result of his observations during this period were published in 1764, under the title of Economical and Medical Observations, from 1738 to 1763, tending to the improvement of Medical Hospitals, one vol. 8vo. He had already, however, given to the public many proofs of the activity of his mind and the variety of his attainments, by papers which appeared in the Transactions of the Royal Society. His Dissertation on the Music of the Ancients appeared in 1749, and his Oratio Harceiana in 1760. Shortly after this he was appointed by the Duke of Richmond, physician-general to the royal regiment of artillery and corps of engineers—an appointment that gave him constant access to the laboratory of Woolwich; and it was by his advice that a professorship of chemistry was added to the establishment of the college.

In his latter years he withdrew altogether into the retirement of private life. The circle of his friends comprehended some of the most distinguished literary men of the age. His intimacy with Burke had commenced at school, and soon ripened into the warmest friendship. He was also warmly attached to Dr Johnson, and attended him in his last illness with assiduity and kindness. He had conferred many kindnesses upon the great moralist during his lifetime, of which the following may be taken as a sample. Understanding that Dr Johnson wished to visit the Continent for the recovery of his health, he offered him an annuity of £100 during the remainder of his life; and when this offer was declined, pressed him to reside in his house, as more suited to his health than the one in which he then lived. The same generous disposition was manifested in his conduct to Burke, to whom he transmitted £1000, as a legacy he had intended to leave him by will. Dr Brocklesby expired suddenly. He left his entire fortune, with the exception of a few legacies, between his two nephews Dr Thomas Young and Mr Beeby.

(P.M.R.)