Reynolds Correspondence

Scope and Content

Letters, notes and photographs of eminent members of University College staff and others, mostly addressed to Sir John Reynolds. There are two letters to William Sharpey and notes by Augustus De Morgan.

Administrative / Biographical History

Sir John Reynolds was born at Romsey, Hampshire, the son of an independent minister. Reynolds received a general education from his father and then went to University College London to study medicine and become a physician. In 1851 he graduated MB in the University of London and obtained a scholarship and gold medal in medicine. In 1852 he took the degree of MD and began to practice in Leeds, but soon moved to London. In 1855 he was Assistant Physician to the Hospital for Sick Children, and in 1857 Assistant Physician to the Westminster Hospital. In 1859 he was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians. In the same year he was appointed Assistant Physician to University College Hospital. He became Professor of the Principles and Practice of Medicine at University College London in 1866, a post he held until 1878. From 1868 to 1870 he was also Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. In 1878 Reynolds was appointed Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen's household. In 1869 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He was created a baronet in 1895. He devoted much of his work to the study of nervous diseases, and in 1854 published an 'Essay on Vertigo'. He published many other papers. He was also the editor of 'System of Medicine' in five volumes, published from 1866 to 1879, a collection of essays on diseases. He was married, first, to Miss Ainslie, and secondly, to Frances, widow of C.J.C.Crespigny, but left no children. He died in London, after several weeks of illness.

Access Information

Open

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Acquisition Information

Purchased in March 1981 from Emily Driscoll of West Virginia, USA.

Other Finding Aids

A detailed ctalogue is available on the online catalogue.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal copyright restrictions apply.