Administrative / Biographical History

Hutchinson, from Newcastle, was house surgeon and apothecary at MRI from 1800. From 1801 Hutchinson was involved in a number of disputes with the honorary surgeons, in particular William Simmons. In 1804, Hutchinson was accused by Mr Killer and Mr Ward, surgeons of MRI, of neglect of patients and failing to carry out orders about prescriptions. They demanded his dismissal, but the charge was untrue and the Trustees refused to dismiss Hutchinson. Three surgeons resigned as a result of the dispute, and Hutchinson himself resigned in October 1804. He applied for the position of surgeon, but was not appointed and continued to work as an apothecary. In 1805 Hutchinson was appointed to the honorary medical staff of the Lying-in Hospital, holding this position until 1807. Hutchinson also gave lectures on anatomy and physiology with Roget and Gibson in 1805 to 1806, probably at Charles White's museum in King Street. However, Hutchinson suffered from consumption, said to have been brought on by persecution and disappointment. He sailed to Lisbon in 1807 to relieve this consumption and attended the Portuguese Royal Family in Brazil. He died on the return voyage in 1808.

Related Material

See also MMC/1/HutchinsonJn.