Sir John Baber
Encyclopedia
Sir John Baber, M.D. (18 April 1625 – 1704), was an English
physician
to Charles II
, often employed by the king to negotiate with puritans and other non-conformists on account of his sympathies with them.
of Wells, Somersetshire, and was born on 18th April 1625. He was educated at Westminster school
, London
, then became a student at Christ Church College, Oxford in 1642. He graduated as a Bachelor of medicine on 3rd December 1646, being admitted by virtue of the letters of Colonel John Lambert
, governor of the garrison of Oxford
.
He travelled abroad, studying medicine at Leyden, in the Netherlands
, and on 10th November 1648 took the degree of M.D. at Augers. On his return to England he was made an M.D. at Oxford on 18th July 1650, became a candidate of the College of Physicians, London, 4 July 1651, and a fellow of the same institution on 17th August 1657. He started to practise in London, his residence being in King Street, Covent Garden
. Through the recommendation of a near neighbour, Thomas Manton
, rector of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, who, with other presbyterian divines, had taken a prominent part in the restoration of Charles II, he was made physician to the king, the honour of knighthood also being conferred on him 19 March 1660.
Baber was frequently made use of by King Charles in his negotiations with the puritans. Roger North
, who styled him as 'a man of finesse', stated that he was 'in possession of the protectorship at court of dissenting preachers.' In September 1669 Baber informed Manton
of the king's intention to do his utmost to 'get them accepted within the establishment;' but it would appear that Charles made use of him to inspire trust in intentions which were at the best feeble and vacillating. Samuel Pepys
said of Baber that he was so cautious that he would not speak in company until he was acquainted with every stranger present.
Baber died in 1704. He was married three times , and had three sons by his first marriage, but no issue by the other two marriages.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
to Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, often employed by the king to negotiate with puritans and other non-conformists on account of his sympathies with them.
Life and work
Baber was the son of John Baber, recorderRecorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Wells, Somersetshire, and was born on 18th April 1625. He was educated at Westminster school
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, then became a student at Christ Church College, Oxford in 1642. He graduated as a Bachelor of medicine on 3rd December 1646, being admitted by virtue of the letters of Colonel John Lambert
John Lambert (general)
John Lambert was an English Parliamentary general and politician. He fought during the English Civil War and then in Oliver Cromwell's Scottish campaign , becoming thereafter active in civilian politics until his dismissal by Cromwell in 1657...
, governor of the garrison of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
He travelled abroad, studying medicine at Leyden, in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and on 10th November 1648 took the degree of M.D. at Augers. On his return to England he was made an M.D. at Oxford on 18th July 1650, became a candidate of the College of Physicians, London, 4 July 1651, and a fellow of the same institution on 17th August 1657. He started to practise in London, his residence being in King Street, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. Through the recommendation of a near neighbour, Thomas Manton
Thomas Manton
Thomas Manton was an English Puritan clergyman.-Life:Thomas Manton was baptized March 31, 1620 at Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, a remote southwestern portion of England. His grammar school education was possibly at Blundell's School, in Tiverton, Devon...
, rector of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, who, with other presbyterian divines, had taken a prominent part in the restoration of Charles II, he was made physician to the king, the honour of knighthood also being conferred on him 19 March 1660.
Baber was frequently made use of by King Charles in his negotiations with the puritans. Roger North
Roger North (17th century)
Roger North, KC , English lawyer, biographer, and amateur musician, was the sixth son of t he fourth Baron North....
, who styled him as 'a man of finesse', stated that he was 'in possession of the protectorship at court of dissenting preachers.' In September 1669 Baber informed Manton
Thomas Manton
Thomas Manton was an English Puritan clergyman.-Life:Thomas Manton was baptized March 31, 1620 at Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, a remote southwestern portion of England. His grammar school education was possibly at Blundell's School, in Tiverton, Devon...
of the king's intention to do his utmost to 'get them accepted within the establishment;' but it would appear that Charles made use of him to inspire trust in intentions which were at the best feeble and vacillating. Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
said of Baber that he was so cautious that he would not speak in company until he was acquainted with every stranger present.
Baber died in 1704. He was married three times , and had three sons by his first marriage, but no issue by the other two marriages.