Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Heberden, William (1767-1845)

by Joseph Frank Payne

HEBERDEN, WILLIAM, the younger (1767–1845), physician, born 23 March 1767 in Cecil Street, London, was second and only surviving son of William Heberden [q. v.] He was educated at the Charterhouse and at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1788 as first senior optime. He was second chancellor's medallist, took on two occasions the members' prizes, and was fellow of his college from 1788 to 1796. He became M.A. 1791, and was incorporated on this degree at Oxford, where he took his medical degrees, M.B. 1792, M.D. 1795. Heberden studied in London at St. George's Hospital, and was elected physician there 15 Nov. 1793, but resigned his office in 1803. He was admitted candidate of the College of Physicians 1795, fellow 30 Sept. 1796, and was afterwards censor and elect. He delivered the Harveian oration 1809. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society. Heberden was early in life attached to the court, being made physician extraordinary to the queen in 1795, and to the king in 1805. He received the higher appointment of physician in ordinary to the queen in 1806 and to the king in 1809. He declined more than once the offer of a baronetcy with a pension. During the last illness of George III he was one of the physicians most frequently in attendance, and contemporary accounts state that he had a tolerably large practice. In 1812 his plans were entirely changed by the death of his wife, which left him a widower with nine children. He retired to Datchet, Buckinghamshire, and occupied himself with the education of his children, his only medical practice being attendance on the king at Windsor. In 1826 he returned to London to superintend the studies of one of his sons who had entered as a student at St. George's Hospital. The death of this son in 1829 from a dissection wound, of another son and of a daughter shortly afterwards, induced him finally to retire from practice, and he devoted the rest of his life to study and authorship in theological subjects. He died in London 19 Feb. 1845, and was buried at Windsor.

Heberden was an accomplished physician and scholar, whose success was aided by every favouring circumstance of education, position, and family connection. His medical writings, which were not numerous, were learned and accurate rather than original. His personal interest in education induced him to write a short dialogue on that subject, and to translate for the benefit of his children Plutarch's treatise (from the ‘Morals’) on ‘Brotherly Love.’ He also translated Cicero's ‘Letters to Atticus.’ He was the author of the inscription on Addison's monument in Westminster Abbey, and his Harveian oration is an interesting and elegant specimen of academical Latin. His biblical criticisms and translations seem to have been chiefly composed for the use of his friends. He is credited with having made the English version of his father's ‘Commentaries,’ though his name does not appear. His published writings (all printed in London) were:

1. ‘Observations on the Increase and Decrease of different Diseases and particularly of the Plague,’ 1801, 4to.
2. ‘Morborum Puerilium Epitome,’ 1804, 8vo. English version of the same, 1807, 12mo.
3. ‘Oratio Harveiana,’ 1809–10, 4to.
4. ‘On Education; a Dialogue after the manner of Cicero's Philosophical Disquisitions,’ 1818, 12mo.
5. ‘Letters of Cicero to Atticus,’ translated with notes, 1825, 8vo.
6. ‘Reflections upon the Gospel according to St. John,’ 1830, 12mo.
7. ‘A Literal Translation of the Apostolical Epistles and Revelation,’ with concurrent commentary, 1839, 8vo.
8. In the ‘Medical Transactions of the College of Physicians,’ vol. iv. (1) ‘Of a Peculiar Affection of the Eyes’ (Nyctalopia); (2) ‘Observations on the Scurvy,’ &c. Vol. v. ‘A Case of Water in the Head,’ &c.
9. In the ‘Philosophical Transactions,’ vol. lxxxvi. 1796, ‘On the Influence of Cold upon the Health of the Inhabitants of London.’

[London Medical Gazette, 25 April 1845; Authentic Memoirs of Physicians and Surgeons, 2nd edit. 1818, p. 64; Munk's Coll. of Phys. 1878, ii. 457.]

J. F. P.