Edward Alston
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Alston was the president of the College of Physicians
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Alston was born in Suffolk
, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. 1615, M.D. 1626. In 1631 he was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians, and was president from 1655 until 1666. At the Restoration
he was knighted (3 September 1660). He increased the power of the college by a judicious inclusion of physicians who during the rebellion had practised without the college license. Thus seventy honorary fellows were created at once. Their diploma fees filled the almost empty college chest, but while the college was unguarded during the plague, thieves carried off the money. When in the following year The Great Fire of London inflicted a still more serious loss on the society, Alston promised money to rebuild the college, but a quarrel arose as to the site, and at the annual election he was not again chosen president. He withdrew his promise of money and never renewed it. He published in quarto ‘A Collection of Grants to the College of Physicians,’ London, 1660. He lived in Great St. Helens, Bishopsgate
, and died very rich 24 December 1669.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
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Alston was born in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. 1615, M.D. 1626. In 1631 he was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians, and was president from 1655 until 1666. At the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he was knighted (3 September 1660). He increased the power of the college by a judicious inclusion of physicians who during the rebellion had practised without the college license. Thus seventy honorary fellows were created at once. Their diploma fees filled the almost empty college chest, but while the college was unguarded during the plague, thieves carried off the money. When in the following year The Great Fire of London inflicted a still more serious loss on the society, Alston promised money to rebuild the college, but a quarrel arose as to the site, and at the annual election he was not again chosen president. He withdrew his promise of money and never renewed it. He published in quarto ‘A Collection of Grants to the College of Physicians,’ London, 1660. He lived in Great St. Helens, Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall...
, and died very rich 24 December 1669.