Ancestors of Christopher John Augustine Morry

Fred Winn Slipper

Sex: M
AKA: Fred Slipper ²²⁷⁴ ^,3987, Fred W. Slipper ⁴⁸²⁴
Individual Information

Birth Date: 10 Feb 1887 - Ontario, Canada ⁷³⁵³ Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1886.
• Alt. Birth: Canada, Cir 1886.
• Immigration: Cir 1888, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.
• Departure: Apr 1893, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.
• Arrival: 9 Apr 1893, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
• Occupation: Errand Boy, 1900, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.
• Religion: Anglican, 1912, Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: 41 Bennet Ave., 5 Jun 1917, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States of America.
• Occupation: Salesman, 1940, Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: 266 Willard Ave., 1940, Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada.

Parents

Father: Levi Slipper ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,847 ^,848 ^,849 ^,7352 Mother: Mary Winn ¹⁴⁶ ^,7352

Spouses and Children

1. *Phyllis Mary O'Driscoll ⁷³⁵² Marriage: 31 Dec 1912 - York, Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada ⁷³⁵²
Marriage Events
• Witnesses: Samuel R. McBride, John G. Hardy, Alex Winacant (?), 31 Dec 1912, Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. Marriage Notes

At the Cathedral, Toronto

Guy Slipper

Sex: M

Individual Information

Birth Date: Aug 1872 - Canada ⁸⁵⁰ Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1872, Ontario, Canada.
• Religion: Methodist, 1881.
• Residence: 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Arrival: 1891.
• Residence: 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: Age: 27; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son; Ward 24, 1900, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.

Parents

Father: John Slipper ¹⁴⁶ ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 Mother: Louisa Reynolds ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 ^,851

Ida Slipper

Sex: F

Individual Information

Birth Date: Jun 1870 - Pennsylvania, United States of America ⁸⁵⁰ Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1868, Ontario, Canada.
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1868, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: Ward 1, 1870, Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: 1871, Paris, North Brant, Ontario, Canada.
• Religion: Methodist, 1881.
• Residence: 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: Age: 29; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter; Ward 24, 1900, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.

Parents

Father: John Slipper ¹⁴⁶ ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 Mother: Louisa Reynolds ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 ^,851

Isadora Slipper

Sex: F
AKA: Dorah Slipper ⁸⁴⁸
Individual Information

Birth Date: Cir 1866 - Ontario, Canada ⁸⁴⁸ Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1867, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: Ward 1, 1870, Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: 1871, Paris, North Brant, Ontario, Canada.
• Religion: Methodist, 1881.
• Residence: 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.

Parents

Father: John Slipper ¹⁴⁶ ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 Mother: Louisa Reynolds ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 ^,851

James Slipper

Sex: M

Individual Information

Birth Date: Cir 1864 - Ontario, Canada Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Residence: Ward 1, 1870, Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: 1871, Paris, North Brant, Ontario, Canada.
• Occupation: Clerk, 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Religion: Methodist, 1881.
• Residence: 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Occupation: Artist, 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.

Parents

Father: John Slipper ¹⁴⁶ ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 Mother: Louisa Reynolds ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 ^,851

John Slipper

Sex: M

Individual Information

Birth Date: Jan 1830 - Wallasey, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England ¹⁴⁶ ^,850 Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Residence: Paris, North Brant, Ontario, Canada.
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1830, Wallasey, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England.
• Arrival: Cir 1832.
• Occupation: Shoemaker, starting in Erie, PA and moving to Lambton, ON, Between 1870 and 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: Ward 1, 1870, Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: 1871, Paris, North Brant, Ontario, Canada.
• Religion: Methodist, 1881.
• Residence: 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: Age: 70; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head; Ward 24, 1900, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.

Spouses and Children

1. *Louisa Reynolds ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 ^,851 Marriage: 27 May 1861 - Brantford Township, Brant, Ontario, Canada ¹⁴⁶ ^,850 Children: 1. Levi Slipper 2. James Slipper 3. Isadora Slipper 4. Ida Slipper 5. Guy Slipper 6. Alma Slipper

Levi Slipper

Sex: M

Individual Information

Birth Date: Cir 1862 - Ontario, Canada ¹⁴⁶ ^,847 ^,848 ^,849 Christening: Death: Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Occupation: Salesman, 31 Dec 1312.
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1863, Canada.
• Residence: Ward 1, 1870, Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
• Residence: 1871, Paris, North Brant, Ontario, Canada.
• Occupation: Barber, 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Religion: Methodist, 1881.
• Residence: 1881, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: Age: 9; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son, 1891, Forest, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.

Parents

Father: John Slipper ¹⁴⁶ ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 Mother: Louisa Reynolds ¹⁴⁶ ^,846 ^,848 ^,849 ^,850 ^,851

Spouses and Children

1. *Mary Winn ¹⁴⁶ ^,7352 Marriage: Children: 1. Fred Winn Slipper

Notes
General:

190913:

His age is erroneously entered as 9 on the 1891 Census form. Either that or he has left and a boy named Levi, aged 9, is living with John and Louisa. This could be an illegitimate son of Isadora who is no longer living at home. If so, she would have been 15 when he was born.

Alexander Sloan

Sex: M

Individual Information

Birth Date: Cir 1620 - Scotland ²⁹² Christening: Death: Cir 1660 - Killyleagh, Down, Ulster, Northern Ireland ( about age 40) ²⁹² Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Alt. Death: Killyleagh, Down, Ulster, Northern Ireland.
• Alt. Birth: 1660, Scotland.

Spouses and Children

1. *Sara Hicks ⁷⁸ Marriage: Children: 1. James Sloan 2. William Sloan 3. Sir Hans Sloan Bart

Notes
General:

From http://www3.sympatico.ca/afarquharson/pafg05.htm#230. This is a family tree website that is based on the genealogy of Mad Jack Fuller and is managed by Annette Lloyd Thomas, Toronto, ON, Canada Send e-mail to: afarquharson@sympatico.ca

Alexander Sloane was born in 1620 in Scotland. He died in 1660 in Killileagh,County Down. He married Sarah Hicks.

Sarah Hicks was born in 1620. She married Alexander Sloane.

They had the following children:

M i James Sloane was born in 1648. He died in 1704. M ii William Sloane was born in 1654. M iii Sir Hans Sloane Bart was born on 16 Apr 1660. He died on 11 Jan1753.

15/04/02: Based on this information, I assume that the belief Miriam was a child of this family and a sister of Sir Hans Sloan is strictly wishful thinking.

Living

Sex: F

Parents

Father: Sir Hans Sloan Bart Mother: Elizabeth Langly ⁶⁰⁵¹

Spouses and Children

1. Living

Sir Hans Sloan Bart

Sex: M

Individual Information

Birth Date: 16 Apr 1660 - Killyleagh, Down, Ulster, Northern Ireland ¹²⁰² Christening: Death: 11 Jan 1753 - London, Greater London, England ( at age 92) ⁸⁰⁵⁴ Burial: Cause of Death:
Events
• Occupation: Physician, London, Greater London, England.
• Honors: Created a Baronet by King George I, 1716, Wallasey, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England.

Parents

Father: Alexander Sloan ⁷⁸ Mother: Sara Hicks ⁷⁸

Spouses and Children

1. *Elizabeth Langly ⁶⁰⁵¹ Marriage: 1695 Marriage Notes

From Rice University Biography: He was married in 1695, to a widow, Mrs Elizabeth Rose (nee Langley),whom he had known in Jamaica. An heiress in her own right, she brought him a considerable fonune.
Children: 1. Living 2. Living

Notes
General:

Notes taken from a remembrance thought by Enid O'Brien to be by Helena Morry and now in the Morry Papers at PANL: "Grand mother Windsor's Grandmother or Great Grandmother was Miriam, Sister of Sir Hans Sloan, founder of the British Museum."

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO TAKE THE ABOVE AS FACT. IT IS PURE FICTION -- AN ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL FAME TO THE MORRY FAMILY THAT WAS NOT JUSTIFIED. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER TO SUGGEST ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN MIRIAM SLOAN AND THIS FAMILY AND EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS NOT RELATED TO THEM.

From Sloan(e) family website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ fmitchel/sloan/coa.html Hans Sloane, the youngest son of Alexander and Sarah, became a physician and attained distinction in his profession. He presided for several years over the College of Physicians and in 1716 was created a Baronet by King George I. Sir Hans married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Langly of London and the widow of Fulk Rose, of Jamacia. Sir Hans,however, left only female issue, two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, surviving him

From the Natural History Museum website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/info/history/begin.html#sloane " The Natural History Museum traces its roots to the middle of the eighteenth century with the establishment of the British Museum in Bloomsbury. The British Museum housed the collection of Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), a prominent London physician and collector. Sloane's collection was extremely varied, including everything from dried snake skins from the West Indies, 336 volumes of dried plants, animal and human skeletons, and artifacts from the ancient world. He regarded his collection as his life's work and began to concern himself with its preservation toward the end of his life.

Sloane stipulated in his will that he desired his collection to 'remain together, and not be separated, and that chiefly in and about the city of London, where I have acquired most of my estates and where theymay by the great confluence of people most be used.' He offered the collection to the crown for the sum of £20,000 (a small amount comparedto its value), payable to his two surviving daughters. In his will Sloane nominated a large group of 'Trustees' to oversee his collection, and on 27 January 1753 34 of these Trustees met and drew up a proposalfor the purchase of the collection and foundation of a museum. The proposal was accepted by Parliament on 19 March 1753 and approved by thecrown on 7 June of the same year.

Beginning in 1756, Sloane's collection was housed in Montagu House inBloomsbury, the first home of the British Museum."

From the New Ulster Website: http://www.aughrim.demon.co.uk/sloane.html "Sir Hans Sloane By J. B. Palmer

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- The 16 April 1660, is the generally accepted date for the birth of Hans, one of several sons of Alexander Sloane, tax-collector of Killyleagh, Co. Down. Just as his date of birth is still debated by scholars, so too is his actual birthplace. Most researchers believe - and their belief is supported by local tradition - that Hans was born in Frederick Street, Killyleagh, in the house where the Sloane family resided for many years; the house, alas, has since been demolished and the heritage of Ulster, the poorer as a result.

Early Life Little is known for definite about Hans' childhood, except that he attended school in Killyleagh with his elder brothers, where he studied Latin - which would seem to suggest quite a high standard of educationfor a school, in what was then, a mere village. It is safe to assume that young Hans was both able and diligent 'at his books'.

When he was sixteen years of age, Hans began to suffer from haemoptysis, which caused him to spit blood - an affliction which would plague his life for about three years. In order to counteract the condition, he was obliged to adopt a temperate lifestyle and from this time may have become more studious as a chosen alternative to more vigorous activities.

In the preface to his Natural History of Jamaica, he stated that from his youth he loved to study plants and other natural curiosities - being raised beside the unspoiled shores of Strangford Lough, probably gave an additional impetus to his fascination with nature in all forms.The love of botany seems to have been almost a family trait and the elegant gardens, created by distant relatives, can still be seen at Rowallane, near Saintlield and at the Castle Grounds in Bangor, Co. Down.

Medical Studies Around 1679, Hans Sloane moved to London to study medicine and chemistry under Nicholas Staphorst. He also attended lectures for botany andother medical disciplines. In 1683, Sloane travelled to France to complete his studies, attending lectures at the Hospital de Ia Charite inParis and the Royal Garden of Plants, where lectures commenced at sixin the morning. Sloane finished his studies at Montpellier - then themost renowned medical school in Europe.

As Protestants were debarred from receiving degrees from both Paris and Montpellier, Sloane was obliged to enrol at the University of Orange, in the south of France (the same old town from which the House of Orange in Holland took its name). On 28 July 1683, Sloane was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Medicine - his thesis receiving much acclaim. He now returned to England with a letter of introduction to Dr Thomas Sydenharn, the most notable medical man of the day. Sydenham took an instant liking to the young man and permitted him to lodge in the Sydenham household. Through his association with Sydenham, the young doctor was introduced to some of the most fashionable and wealthiest patients in London.

Jamaica In what spare time he had from his medical practice, he met and debated with like-minded scientists, to such effect that in January 1685, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the RoyalCollege of Physicians in 1687. Now more than ever, he was sought after by the 'fashionable set', but the young Duke of Albernarle heat allothers and contracted the young Sloane to become his personal physician.

The Duke of Albernarle owed his elevated position to his able and illustrious father, General Monk, of Restoration fame, but the son was only a dissolute shadow of his father's strong character. Albemarle was created Governor of Jamaica, perhaps in the hope that if he did not further glorify the family name, he would at least be far enough from London should any further scandals occur that might tarnish it. He gave Sloane an initial payment of £300 and agreed a salary of £600 a year. When Albemarle set sail for Jamaica on 12 Septernber 1687, Sloane sailed with him.

The four vessels reached Port Royal on 19 December 1687 and Sloane lost no time in seeuring the services of an artist to record the local flora and fauna and others to secure him specimens. He himself observedand recorded continually as was his habit.

'Buccaneer' Patient Sloane's medical services were much sought after and he again treatedboth rich and poor. His most famous or infamous (depending on perspective). was the retired buccaneer, Sir Henry Morgan. Apparently, Morganwas suffering from what might now be recognised as an occupational hazard; he drank too much and could not sleep - more than likely due toa troubled conscience. The daring commander who had terrorised and sacked the city of Panama, submitted himself into the hands of the youngCo. Down doctor in the hope that Sloane might be able to cure him.

The following year (1688), the Duke of Albemarle died, aged only thirty-five and the Duchess decided to return to England. Sloane accompanied her, bringing with him 800 plants and reams of notes which he laterused to write his Natural History of Jamaica and Catalogue Plantarum Quae in Insula Jamaica. The Duchess of Albemarle retained Sloane as her personal physician and with such illustrious patronage, his clientele once more numbered the rich and farnous. His practice grew by leapsand bounds and in 1695, he established it permanently in Bloomsbury, the most expensive and fashionable area of London at that time.

Royal Appointments In 1701 (the year Oueen Anne consulted him for the first time), the University of Oxford conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Physics. In the years that followed, Sir Hans notched up many notable achievements. He attended upon Prince George of Denmark, the Consort of Queen Anne in 1708; was appointed Physician Extraordinary to Queen Anne in 1712; was created a Baronet in 1716 (only the second physician ever to receive that honour) and was made Physician General to theArmy in 1722. Finally, in 1727, Sloane was appointed King's Physicianin Ordinary to George II. Throughout these years he also received various honorary memberships from several foreign nations.

'The Great Collector' Exactly when Sloane began to collect specimens is unknown, but all indications point to his love of collecting starting at an early age - more than likely on the shores of the Ards Peninsula. In the preface tohis Natural History of Jamaica, he records that 'from my youth I was much delighted with the study of plants and other parts of nature'.

Many of his contemporaries referted to Sloane as 'The Great Collector' - an accolade indeed in an era where 'collecting' was a fashion in its own right Many prominent people expended large fortunes, as they vied with each other to secure the rare or the remarkable. Indeed, fervent collectors or their proxies, thought nothing of shooting rare species of birds to adorn a glass case and important historical sites weredaily plundered in the quest for desirable artifacts. Such was the importance of Sloane's collection, both in terms of quality and quantity, that it eventually formed the nucleus of the British Museum. Sloanehad also managed to incorporate other important collections with his own and therefore, had at each transaction, made his own collection even more unique, larger and of course more valuable.

Further Acquisitions At the time of his return from Jamaica, Sloane had no less than 800 plant specimens in his possession. In 1702, he was bequeathed the vast Charleton Collection (second only to his own in terms of size). This was further augmented in 1718, when Sloane paid £4,000 for the Petiver Collection. On the death of an old friend, Sir Arthur Rawdon, of Moira, Co. Down, Sloane benefitted from being bequeathed Rawdon's sornewbat smIler collection. Mter these acquisitions, Sloane's collection wasthe biggest in the world and was as diverse in content as it was vast. The list which Sloane had compiled of his collection in 1725, may be compared to that compiled upon his death in 1753. In 1725, medals and coins were listed and numbered at 20,228; large seals at 81. By 1753, coins and medals in the collection numbered 23,000 and large seals,268. Every section of the collection had incased over the years, withthe single exception of 'Mathematical Instruments', which had gone from 54 to 55 items.

Upon examining Sloane's will, one finds how he himself described his collection, commenting on the variety of contents contained therein:

..my library of books, drawings, manuscripts, Prints, medals and coins; ancient and modern antiquities, seals and cameos, intaglios and precious stones; agates and jaspen, vessels of agate, jasper or crystal; mathematical instruments, drawings and pictures, and all other things.

The collection is listed in thirty-eight volume:5 in folio and eight volumes in quarto. The 'other things' were apparenfly as unusual as his twelve hexagonal )ecimers from the Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim and the nine-foot-wide horns of the extinct Irish elk. The total inventory at his death listed some 200,000 items, a staggering figure even by modern standards and almost unbelievable for those days.

Royalty visited his private museum, housed in his Chelsea manor-house, where, no doubt they were shown a medal depicting William of Orange's 'Deliverance of Britain' and another which recorded the massacre ofProtestants in the France of King Charles IX. (Such royal interest probably helped ensure that the Sloane collection was retained in later years for the public enjoyment of the whole nation and later the world.)

Private Life Those who sought after scandal in the life of Hans Sloane had a hard job, as he apparently lived only for his vocation, his collection and his family. He was married in 1695, to a widow, Mrs Elizabeth Rose (nee Langley), whom he had known in Jamaica. An heiress in her own right, she brought him a considerable fonune.

Sloane was now a multi-millionaire, paying enormous sums for coveted artefacts without a murmur- if he was sure they were genuine. Yet by the sarne token' he coold be almost miserly, as was recorded by an employee, Edmund Howard. Sloane paid him one penny for every three mice orrats caught, but when Howard began getting too successful, Sloane immediately cancelled the bounty. Howard was paid as gardener to Sloane, but to save money, Sloane continually asked him to complete tasks, forwhich his employee had neither training or experience - ordering him to remove his fragile collection, to demolish an old manor house and sell any material salvaged from the house or assume the job of rent collector

Yet even though Howard was often at variance with him, he nevertheless recorded that Sloane was a fair employer, mindful of his servants welfare and charitable when required. Not infallible perhaps, but Sloane was very much out of the ordinary mould of most folk. He attended upon royalty at their request; he extracted large fees from the rich, yet treated the peor and needy for free, often tendering monetary assistance after curing them.

Sloane was obviously a very agreeable person, as borne out by his making and keeping the friendship of some of the foremost people of his age. He lodged for several years with the Duchess of Albemarle and Dr Sydenham, neither of whom need have tolerated anyone they considered disagreeable.

Further Honours Sloane's only son died as a child, but he was survived by two daughters. The gift he was to leave to posterity is inestimable and by way ofappreciation, a grateful monarch bestowed a knighthootl upon him. He was further honoured when the Society of Apothecaries erected a statueof him in his beloved Physics Garden in Chelsea. Perhaps even fate itself tried to recompense him for having no heir to carry forward his family name, for his name is now perpetuated in no less than a dozen London thoroughfares, the best known of which is Sloane Square.

Sloane was also mentioned in several contemporary poems, of which some were derisory; the most laudable poems included one by the celebrated Alexander Pope. Well over a century later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was to demonstrate that the name of 'Hans Sloane' had become an accepted by-word for a 'collector extraordinary' by using it in his SherlockHolmes' tale, The Three Garridebs.

So, from very humble beginnings on the shores of Strangford Lough, with a few plants and birds' eggs, Sloane's accumulation had grown intoa priceless collection of over 200,000 items, which formed the nucleus of the British Museum and became the envy of the academic world. His collection, therefore, has, does and will continue to give pleasureand knowledge to multitudes of visitors each year - Sir Hans Sloane would have wished for no better monument."

From Rice University website: http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/Catalog/Files/sloane.html

Catalog of the Scientific Community Sloane, Sir Hans

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on genealogical questions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----

1. Dates Born: Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland, 16 April 1660 Died: London, 11 Jan. 1753 Dateinfo: Dates Certain Lifespan: 93

2. Father Occupation: Estate Administrator, Government Official

Alexander Sloane was receiver-general of taxes for County Down for the Earl of Clanbrassill; that is, he was an agent for the Earl (to whom he was related) in the administration of the Earl's estate. Note that the name Hans was fairly common in the Hamilton family (the family of the Earl); Hans Sloane was clearly named as a compliment to his father's patron.

In the census of 1659 the father held land on which there were 22 tenants. He died when Hans, the youngest of seven sons, was only six. No one knows anything about the family finances after that, but I do not see how to deny that he grew up in relatively prosperous circumstances.

3. Nationality Birth: Irish (though of the English, in this case actually. Scottish,ruling class) Career: English Death: English

4. Education Schooling: Orange, M.D.

Sloane did not have a university education or a bachelor's degree. Hestudied medicine in London, 1679-83, and then went to Paris for a year. In Paris he studied at the Jardin du Roi, not at the university. Hethen took a medical degree at the University of Orange in 1683. Orange, like quite a few others in France (Rheims, Angers, Caens, to name no more) examined but did not instruct. He went on to Montpellier for further study, again not as a formal student. Sloane is, if I remembercorrectly, only the second for whom I list M.D. without a B.A. or itsequivalent. The other one I recall is Nicolas Lemery.

Created M.D. at Oxford, 1701. I am not listing this.

M.D., conferred by Dublin, 1743. Or this.

5. Religion Affiliation: Calvinist, Anglican

The Sloane family went to Ireland early in the 17th century as part of the group led by their relatives, the Hamiltons. It was a Presbyterian group, and Sloane grew up as one of them. He was the classic conformer, and he conformed to the Anglican Church during his long career in London.

6. Scientific Disciplines Primary: Natural History, Botany, Scientific Organization Subordinate: Medicine

Sloane became interested in natural history as a boy and never lost the interest. His great collection, in which natural history was quite prominent, became (through his bequest) the nucleus of the British Museum. He pursued natural history in Jamaica, and from that trip came two books: Catalogus plantarum quae in insula Jamaica sponte proveniunt, 1696, and Voyage to Madiera, Barbadoes, and Jamaica, with the Natural History of Jamaica, in two widely spaced volumes, 1707 and 1725. Healso published quite a few papers in the Philosophical Transactions, most of them on natural history. Clearly plants were at the center of his natural historical interests.

Sloane's greatest service to science may well have been to its societies in London. As Secretary of the Royal Society, 1693-1712, he was one agent in reviving it after its near collapse. Later he was President for fourteen years, succeeding Newton. He was also President of theRoyal College of Physicians for sixteen years, beginning in 1719.

Though a highly successful one, Sloane was not a great physician. He did, within his limited powers, strive to dethrone superstition and toraise the standard of medicine. He published one book, An Account ofa Medicine for . . . Distempers of the Eyes, 1745.

7. Means of Support Primary: Medicine, Patronage, Personal Means Secondary: Government

Set up practice in London, 1684 until not long before his death. He was quickly one of the most successful physicians in the city, especially after his return from Jamaica. He is said to have charged the wealthy one guinea per hour.

Physician to the Duke of Albemarle, Christopher Monck, Governor of Jamaica, 1687-9, with a salary of £600. Monk died not long after the arrival in Jamaica. Sloane accompanied his widow back and stayed on in her household as her personal physician for about five years. This connection, together with his Sydenham connection, launched his successfulpractice.

In Jamaica he invested heavily in quinine and sugar. Several years after his return he married the widow of a rich planter in Jamaica; she brought a fortune with her. That is, Sloane became a very wealthy man.

Physician to Christ's Hospital, 1694-1730, £30, which he gave back tothe hospital.

Physician to Queen Anne, 1712-14.

Physician-general to the army, 1722-7.

First physician to George II, 1727.

8. Patronage Types: Physician, Aristrocrat, Court Official

Brooks is convinced that the patronage of the Hamilton family was necessary to launch Sloane's career--his medical study in London and Paris. It is far from evident to me that Sloane's family was even close topoverty.

Boyle, with whom Sloane became acquainted, recommended him to Thomas Sydenham when Sloane returned from France. Sydenham promoted his earlycareer. Among other things he seems to have been responsible for Sloane's election into the College of Physicians.

The Albemarle connection was important.

Sloane dedicated his Catalogus, 1696, to the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians. By then he was well launched. He was already Secretary of the Royal Society. I am not inclined to treat that dedication as an aspect of patronage.

Appointed physician to Anne, and later to George II. He dedicated thefirst volume of the Natural History of Jamaica to Anne and the secondvolume to George I. He dedicated his medical work, An Account, 1645, to George II.

Sloane preserved the life of Anne a few hours at a critical juncture and thus preserved the Hanoverian succession. George I conferred a baronetcy on him in 1716.

When Sloane became wealthy, he became a patron himself. He took youngphysicians with him exactly as Sydenham had done for him. Books were dedicated to him. When he purchased Chelsea manor, he conveyed the Physick Garden to the impoverished Company of Apothecaries virtually as agift. Above all, he gave his great collection to the nation. Perhaps Sloane, especially his correspondence, might help to illuminate the motives of the patron.

9. Technological Involvement Types: Medical Practice, Pharmacology

Sloane was interested in the pharmacological uses of plants; he contributed some new drugs from Jamaica into the accepted pharmacology. He included material of this sort in his Natural History of Jamaica. He apparently concocted Sir Hans Sloane's Milk Chocolate as a medicine. Hehelped to establish the use of quinine. The Account was about an ointment (based on viper grease!) for sore eyes; it is said to have continued in wide use for some time. As President of the College of Physicians he pushed a revised London Pharmacopaeia, 1724.

De Beer claims that Sloane introduced scientific method into medicinewith his insistence on empirical observation. This seems greatly exaggerated to me. However, Sloane did promote all sorts of projects to improve health care in London, including the foundation of the FoundlingHospital. He greatly helped the introduction of inoculation for smallpox after 1718, and did inoculate members of the royal family.

10. Scientific Societies Memberships: Royal Society, Medical College, Académie Royal des Sciences, Berlin Academy, Russian Academy (St. Petersburg)

Informal Connections: Close friendships with John Ray, Robert Boyle and Tancred Robinson, beginning in the 1670s; with Thomas Sydenham, beginning in 1684. Friendship with John Locke, Samuel Pepys, Isaac Newton, Edmond Halley, William Courten, Christopher Wren, and John Evelyn. Most of his immense correspondence is in the Sloane Manuscripts in theBritish Library. See Books, p. 118, for a summary of the location of Sloane's correspondence. His correspondence with Ray at least is published, in the Derham volume.

Royal Society, 1685; Secretary, 1693-1712; President, 1727- 41.

Royal College of Physicians, 1687; Censor, 1705, 1709, 1715; Elect, 1716; President, 1719-35.

College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1705.

Academy of Sciences of Paris, 1709.

Royal Academy of Science, Berlin, 1712.

Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, 1735.

Royal Academy of Madrid, 1735.

Academy of Sciences of Gottingen, 1752.

Sources Dictionary of National Biography (repr., London: Oxford University Press, 1949-50), 18, 376-80. Biographia Britannica, 1st ed. (London, 1747-66), 6.1, 3697-706. Gavin R. de Beer, Sir Hans Sloane and the British Museum, (London, 1953). Eric St. John Brooks, Sir Hans Sloane, The Great Collector and His Circle, (London, 1954). Richard Pulteney, Historical and Biographical Sketches of the Progress of Botany in England, (London 1790), 2, 65-96. Not consulted: "Sir Hans Sloane," British Museum Quarterly, 18 (1953), 1-26. This whole issue is devoted to Sloane. W.R. Sloan, "Sir Hans Sloane, F.R.S.: Legend and Lineage," Notes and Records of the Royal Society, 35 (1980), 125-33.

Compiled by: Richard S. Westfall Department of History and Philosophy of Science Indiana University

Home | Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List

This website was created 9 Apr 2026 with Legacy 10.0, a division of MyHeritage.com; content copyrighted and maintained by cjmorry@ncf.ca