Mercer's Hospital
Encyclopedia
Mercer's Hospital in Dublin, Ireland
is a former hospital, converted in the 1990s into a medical centre, part of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
.
was on its first board of governors.
In order to support funding for the hospital a number of concerts were arranged over the following years. The most significant of these was the first performance of Handel’s Messiah
, which took place in the Ancient Musick Rooms in Fishamble Street on 13 April 1742. In order to provide room for a large audience, ladies were requested to lay aside their hoops and gentlemen their swords. By this means an audience of 700 was crowded into the space, and the concert realised £400.
In the 19th century Mercer's was one of the chief teaching hospitals in Dublin; it was located close to several schools of medicine, including Kirby's and the Ledwich school (run by Thomas Ledwich
) in Peter St. Ledwich's brother Edward became surgeon and lecturer at the hospital. Among other surgeons who practised there in the latter half of the 19th century were Drs. Butcher, Mason, Nixon and Edward Stamer O'Grady.
In the late 1880s trouble broke out among the staff, leading to charges being brought against Dr. O'Grady, senior surgeon at the hospital. In October 1887 he was accused of insulting his professional colleagues to such an extent that they were unable to work with him. He had also charged one of the members of the board with loitering in the female ward for immodest purposes. Some of the staff left. Lectures were disrupted and the numbers of students fell. The row continued into the 1890s until finally he and most of the staff were dismissed by the governors, and he refused to seek re-election. O'Grady died at home on 18 October 1897.
A new staff was appointed in 1898, under the rule of Dr. ("Bull") Elliott. Among them was Sir John Lumsden.
The current building was designed by J.H. Brett in 1884.
At the bi-centennial anniversary of the hospital in 1934 the staff included: Charles B. Maunsell, Seton Pringle
, Bethel Solomons, William de Courcy Wheeler and Gibbon Fitzgibbon. House physicians were Dr. Wentworth Taylor and Dr. Muriel Smiddy.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
is a former hospital, converted in the 1990s into a medical centre, part of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
.
History
The hospital was founded for the sick and the poor by the will of Mary Mercer, who died in 1734 - she had provided a house for poor girls at this location ten years earlier. A number of eminent surgeons took over the running of the hospital. Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
was on its first board of governors.
In order to support funding for the hospital a number of concerts were arranged over the following years. The most significant of these was the first performance of Handel’s Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
, which took place in the Ancient Musick Rooms in Fishamble Street on 13 April 1742. In order to provide room for a large audience, ladies were requested to lay aside their hoops and gentlemen their swords. By this means an audience of 700 was crowded into the space, and the concert realised £400.
In the 19th century Mercer's was one of the chief teaching hospitals in Dublin; it was located close to several schools of medicine, including Kirby's and the Ledwich school (run by Thomas Ledwich
Thomas Hawkesworth Ledwich
Thomas Hawkesworth Ledwich was an eminent Irish anatomist and surgeon.-Life:He was born in Waterford, where his father practiced law, son of Edward Ledwich and Catherine Hawkesworth, both of Queen's County...
) in Peter St. Ledwich's brother Edward became surgeon and lecturer at the hospital. Among other surgeons who practised there in the latter half of the 19th century were Drs. Butcher, Mason, Nixon and Edward Stamer O'Grady.
In the late 1880s trouble broke out among the staff, leading to charges being brought against Dr. O'Grady, senior surgeon at the hospital. In October 1887 he was accused of insulting his professional colleagues to such an extent that they were unable to work with him. He had also charged one of the members of the board with loitering in the female ward for immodest purposes. Some of the staff left. Lectures were disrupted and the numbers of students fell. The row continued into the 1890s until finally he and most of the staff were dismissed by the governors, and he refused to seek re-election. O'Grady died at home on 18 October 1897.
A new staff was appointed in 1898, under the rule of Dr. ("Bull") Elliott. Among them was Sir John Lumsden.
The current building was designed by J.H. Brett in 1884.
Notable physicians
Among the notable physicians who have been associated with Mercer's Hospital are:- George Daunt (1712–1786) (knick-named "Undaunted Daunt") had an outstanding reputation as a surgeon and for the invention of devices to aid surgery.
- Francis L'Estrange (1756–1836) was born in Westmeath and was educated as a surgeon. In 1779 he was appointed Assistant Surgeon to Mercer’s Hospital, where he later became surgeon. He was later appointed Assistant Surgeon to the House of Industry Hospitals, and Surgeon to the Marine School. He engaged in obstetrical practice and was present at the birth of the poet, Thomas MooreThomas MooreThomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
(1779). He became president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1796.
- Jonathan OsborneJonathan Osborne-Life:Osborne was born in County Dublin, Ireland, the son of William Osborne of Cullenswood House. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1810 and graduated BA in 1815 and MD in 1818. He started practice in Dublin....
(1794-1864), of Cullenswood House, Dublin, was appointed physician about 1830.
- James Gubbins FitzgeraldJames Gubbins FitzgeraldJames Gubbins Fitzgerald was a medical practitioner and an Irish nationalist politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. As a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, he represented South Longford from 1888 to 1892...
(1852–1926), a close friend of Charles Stewart ParnellCharles Stewart ParnellCharles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, was a medical practitioner and an Irish nationalist politician and MP.
- Henry Eames (1842-1873) was a promising young doctor, lecturer in the Ledwich Medical SchoolThomas Hawkesworth LedwichThomas Hawkesworth Ledwich was an eminent Irish anatomist and surgeon.-Life:He was born in Waterford, where his father practiced law, son of Edward Ledwich and Catherine Hawkesworth, both of Queen's County...
and writer of medical articles, who died early of typhus.
- Robert RowletteRobert RowletteRobert James Rowlette , was an Irish doctor and an independent Teachta Dála in the Irish Free State. He was later a member of Seanad Éireann.-Education and career:...
(c 1879-1944) was a consultant and an independent Teachta DálaTeachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD). He was later a member of Seanad ÉireannSeanad ÉireannSeanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
.
- Edward L'Estrange Ledwich (1857-1927), great-grandson of the above Francis L'Estrange, was an anatomist and later physician and consultant at the hospital from 1897 to 1927.
- John LumsdenJohn LumsdenSir John Lumsden KBE was an Irish physician and the founder of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland.-Early years:John Lumsden was born in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. He was a medical doctor.Dr...
(1869-1944) was the Principal Medical Officer for the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Chief Medical Officer at the Guinness Brewery and founder of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of IrelandSt. John Ambulance Brigade of IrelandThe St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland is a charitable voluntary organisation in the Republic of Ireland. For constitutional reasons it is not a full member association of the Venerable Order of Saint John and the international St. John Ambulance movement, but rather is classed as an...
.
- Daniel Thomas Croly (1884-1946), born in Achill, was assistant surgeon at the hospital. He was in the RAMC in World War I.
- J. B. Lyons (1922-2007) was a medical historian, writer, physician and professor of medicine.
At the bi-centennial anniversary of the hospital in 1934 the staff included: Charles B. Maunsell, Seton Pringle
Seton Pringle
Seton Pringle OBE was an eminent Irish surgeon.-Life:Pringle was born in Clones, County Monaghan. He entered the School of Physic in Trinity College, Dublin. He proved to be a brilliant student, winning a number of awards. He took his B.A. in 1902 and his M. B. and B. Ch. the following year...
, Bethel Solomons, William de Courcy Wheeler and Gibbon Fitzgibbon. House physicians were Dr. Wentworth Taylor and Dr. Muriel Smiddy.