On this day in history - Physician John Hunter was born

Scottish surgeon John Hunter was born on 13 February 1728, in Lanarkshire.

John Hunter, the surgeon after whom the Hunterian Society of London was named, was born on 13 February 1728. Hunter was the youngest of ten children and began his working life as a cabinet maker. His medical career began after visiting his brother in London, who worked as a teacher of anatomy.

Once qualified as a surgeon, Hunter became famous for his pioneering work and often performed experiments upon himself, in order to further his medical knowledge. He carried an early study in the development of children and also helped scientists to understand the nature of digestion. He became notorious for having taken the body of Irish giant Charles Byrne for study, despite Byrne having expressed a wish to be buried at sea.

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