Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lister, Matthew
LISTER, Sir MATTHEW, M.D. (1571?–1656), physician, son of William Lister, and younger brother of Edward Lister [q. v.], was born at Thornton, Yorkshire, according to the Oxford matriculation register, about 1571, although, according to the age assigned him at his death, the date would be 1564. He entered Oriel College, Oxford 23 Feb. 1587–8, at the age of seventeen (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714, p. 918), graduated B.A. 5 Feb. 1590–1, became a fellow of his college, and proceeded M.A. 2 July 1595. He graduated M.D. at Basle and was incorporated at Oxford 15 May 1605, and in 1608 at Cambridge. He was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians of London 5 June 1607, was censor in 1608, and one of the elects 10 May 1625. On 4 Oct. 1614 he was sent with Sir William Paddy [q. v.] to represent to the lord mayor, Sir Thomas Middleton, that the city had no right to command the fellows of the college to bear arms, and succeeded in establishing this immunity. He was appointed physician to Anne, queen of James I, and to Charles I, by whom he was knighted at Oatlands, Surrey, 11 Oct. 1636. He retired to Burwell, Lincolnshire, and there died 14 Dec. 1656.
[Munk's Coll. of Phys. i. 123; Hamey's Bustorum aliquot reliquias, manuscript in Library of Coll. of Phys.; Goodall's Royal Coll. of Phys. of London, 1684.]