Cornwallis Hewett
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Cornwallis Hewett M.D., F.R.C.P. | |
|---|---|
![]() Portrait of Dr. Cornwallis Hewett by John Hargreaves | |
| Born | 1787 |
| Died | 1841 (aged 53–54) |
| Occupation | physician |
| Title | Dr. |
Cornwallis Hewett FRSC (1787 – 13 September 1841) was a physician who served as Downing Professor of Medicine and Physician-Extraordinary to the King.[1] His younger half-brother Prescott Gardner Hewett also served as Physician-Extraordinary as well as Serjeant Surgeon.[2]
Hewett was born in the East Indies in 1787 to William Nathan Wright Hewett of Calcutta and Bilham House, Doncaster.[1] His father was initially a very wealthy man who lost his fortune from his love of horse-racing.[2] Even though his father's change in fortune meant that he had to remove to France, he still managed to have a strong education at Charterhouse School followed by matriculation at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1806, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1809 with a Members' Prize.[3][1] He later transferred to Downing College, Cambridge and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in 1812, his medical license in 1814, along with a further Bachelor of Medicine from Downing College, Cambridge as well as an incorporated Bachelor of Medicine from Brasenose College, Oxford.[1][4]
Medical career
After receiving his M.L. Hewett was appointed Downing Professor of Medicine, one of the most senior medical appointments in the gift of the University of Cambridge.[2] Hewett was also appointed a Fellow and Tutor at Downing College, Cambridge in 1814 and later he received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1822.[2] On receiving his M.D. on 9 August 1822 he was also appointed as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, becoming a fellow on 12 April 1824.[5] On 25 March 1825 he was appointed the physician to St George's Hospital, London a position in which he served until 1833. He was also appointed Physician-Extraordinary to the King, William IV on 20 July 1832, although no works were published under his name during that appointment.[5] His distinguished career although outdone by his younger half-brother Prescott Gardner Hewett did inspire him to also join St George's Hospital in his wake.[5]
