Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Farmery, John
FARMERY, JOHN, M.D. (d. 1590), physician, a native of Lincolnshire, matriculated as a pensioner of King's College, Cambridge, in November 1561 (B.A. 1564–5, M.A. 1568). He seems to have practised medicine in London, as an empiric, with powerful patrons. The College of Physicians was induced to license him on 4 Feb. 1586–7, and admitted him a candidate 22 Feb. following, and fellow 28 Feb. 1588–9, with an injunction to proceed M.D. within two years. In September 1589 he graduated M.D. at Leyden, after receiving letters testimonial from the London college. In 1589 also he was directed by the college to draw up, with Drs. Atslowe, Browne, and Preest, the formulæ of syrups, juleps, and decoctions, for the ‘Pharmacopœia.’ He died in the spring of 1590. In his will (P. C. C. 23, Drury), dated 15 March and proved 7 April 1590, he described himself as living in ‘Alderbert strete’ in the parish of St. Mary Aldermanbury, and desired to be buried in his parish church. By his wife, Anne, he had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. His widow afterwards married (license dated 26 Feb. 1592–3) Edward Lister, M.D. (d. 1620), and was buried in the church of St. Mary Aldermanbury, 11 Dec. 1613. Farmery was a Roman catholic. His friend Richard Smith, M.D., was ‘supraveisor’ of his will. He is conjectured (Cooper, Athenæ Cant. ii. 98) to have been the author of ‘A Methode of Measuringe and Surveyinge of Land; published by J. F., practitioner in physick,’ licensed to Thomas Woodcocke 13 Oct. 1589 (Arber, Registers, ii. 249). A book, ‘Perpetuall and kindelie pronosticacons of the change of tymes, taken out of old and newe aucthors,’ ‘to be printed in Italian, Frenche, and Englishe,’ and licensed to John Wolfe 7 Jan. 1590–1 (ib. ii. 269 b), has also been attributed to Farmery. Ames (Typogr. Antiq. ed. Herbert, p. 1177) wrongly describes the latter work as ‘Perpetuall Prognostication of the—Weather—by I. F.’ It is very doubtful if Farmery was concerned with it.
[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabrigienses, ii. 98; Munk's Coll. of Phys. i. 96–7, 98, 104; Chester's London Marriage Licenses (Foster), p. 848; information kindly supplied by Mr. Gordon Goodwin.]