biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1728–93)
|
| biography:
| Physiologist and surgeon, born in Long Calderwood, East Kilbride, WC Scotland, UK. He worked in the dissecting room (1748–59) as assistant to his brother, William Hunter, studied surgery at Chelsea Hospital and St Bartholomew's, became house-surgeon at St George's (1756), and lecturer for his brother in the anatomical school. One of his pupils was Edward Jenner. He served in the army as staff-surgeon (1760–3), then started a practice of surgery in London, and devoted much time and money to comparative anatomy. He was appointed surgeon at St George's Hospital (1768), surgeon-extraordinary to George III (1776), and in 1790 surgeon-general to the army. He investigated a large number of subjects, including venereal disease, embryology, inflammation, and gunshot wounds. His Natural History of Human Teeth (1771–8) revolutionized dentistry. He is considered to be the founder of scientific surgery. |
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