Physician and Poet Laureate G C Cook

549 Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.78.923.549 on 1 September 2002. Downloaded from HISTORY OF MEDICINE The medical career of Robert Seymour Bridges, FRCP (1844–1930): physician and Poet Laureate G C Cook ............................................................................................................................. Postgrad Med J 2002;78:549–554 Robert Bridges OM is the only medical graduate (he 10th year, however, his father died (at the age of was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal College of 47 years), and one year later, his mother married the Reverend Dr John Edward Nassau Moles- Physicians of London in 1900) to have held the office of worth2; she then moved to Rochdale, Lancashire Poet Laureate. Educated at Corpus Christi College, (where her husband was vicar). In September Oxford and St Bartholomew’s Hospital he practised as a 1854, still only 9 years old, Robert was sent to Eton, where he was (according to one biographer) casualty physician at his teaching hospital (where he extremely happy3; in his final year he was in the made a series of highly critical remarks of the Victorian Oppidans’ wall and field elevens. He proved to be medical establishment) and subsequently as a full a good cricketer (chiefly as an aggressive bats- man, although he did occasionally bowl) and physician to the Great (later Royal) Northern Hospital. oarsman.3 While there, he enjoyed the “river, He was also a physician to the Hospital for Sick trees, and meadows, St George’s chapel [Windsor] Children. It had for long been his intention to retire from and the companionship of eager, high-souled youth”.6 He also formed a close friendship with a the medical profession at the early age of 40! In 1913, boy four years his junior, Digby Mackworth Bridges was appointed Poet Laureate by King George Dolben (who accidentally drowned in 18675)who V, and following a disappointingly sparse output of had entered Eton in January 1862; Bridges shared with him a common great grandmother. With “official” work, published his greatest literary Dolben and several other friends, he formed “an contribution—The Testament of Beauty—on his 85th ardent little High-Church set”2; with them he birthday. held “Puseyite views”.6 In October 1863, Bridges went up to Corpus .......................................................................... Christi College, Oxford3; he graduated BA with a second class degree in “Greats”. While there he obert Bridges (1844–1930) (fig 1) is the sole met Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). In 1867, he stroked the Corpus boat, which “held the sec- medical graduate (to date) to have attained http://pmj.bmj.com/ Rthe Poet Laureateship—the first holder of ond place on the river”2; at the Paris Regatta, that office was John Dryden (1631–1700) who however, they lost by half a length to the Old Eto- was appointed by King Charles II (1630–85) in nians! In 1874, he toured Egypt, Syria and 1668; Bridges was the 14th,1 and the present Germany,2 and later visited France, Holland and holder of the title (Andrew Motion; 1952– ) the Italy.2 In London, Bridges lived first at 50 Maddox 19th. Bridges was described by one obituarist as “one of the most remarkable figures of his 2 time”. It was his wish that no biography of him on September 28, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. should be written, “and [this] will be respected by all who enjoyed his friendship”; so said a close personal friend—writing a biography in 19443— that is, 14 years after his death. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Robert Seymour Bridges was born at Walmer, Kent (“in a house with grounds overlooking the Channel”2) on 23 October 18442–9; he was the fourth son and eighth child in a family of nine. His antecedents had been “Kentish yeomen” (settled at Harbledown2) since the early 16th cen- ....................... tury. One ancestor was the Reverend John Bridges Correspondence to: (or Brydges), who died in 1590,6 and was rector of Dr G C Cook, Wellcome Harbledown for 10 years from 1579. His father Library for the History and was John Thomas Bridges, of St Nicholas Court, Understanding of Medicine, 183 Euston Isle of Thanet, and his mother Harriet Elizabeth, Road, London NW1 2BE, the third daughter of the Reverend Sir Robert UK; [email protected] Affleck, Bt (who had succeeded to the baronetcy from his cousin in 1833), vicar of Silkstone, Submitted 29 April 2002 8 Accepted 19 June 2002 Yorkshire. Bridges lived his childhood years in his Figure 1 Robert Bridges (1844–1930): photograph ....................... father’s house Roselands, Walmer6; when in his as a young man (date unknown).17 www.postgradmedj.com 550 Cook Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.78.923.549 on 1 September 2002. Downloaded from Figure 3 Bridges entry as a medical student at the Medical Registration Office, on 1 October 1869. (Reproduced with Figure 2 Entry in the St Bartholomew’s Hospital Student Register on permission—museum and archives, St Bartholomew’s Hospital.) 6 November 1869. The entry is presumably written in Bridges’ own hand. His lodgings were at 35 Great Ormond Street: “a few blocks from the British Museum and a short walk to the west of [St the written papers in December 1873,9 but graduated BM on Bartholomew’s] Hospital”.9 In 1871–72 he moved to 50 Maddox 17 December 1874.9 While a house physician, he made the Street, Hanover Square and shared a house with Harry Ellis acquaintance of Samuel Gee FRCP (1839–1911) later to Wooldridge. (Reproduced with permission—museum and archives, become a physician at Great Ormond Street (where in 1888 he St Bartholomew’s Hospital.) wrote an important paper “On the Cœliac Affection”—gluten- induced enteropathy) and physician to George, Prince of Street (with his lifelong friend Harry Ellis Wooldridge; 1845– Wales in 1901; Bridges in fact acted as his “best man”!9 His 1917), and after his stepfather Molesworth’s death (in 1877) first “chief” (to whom he was house physician 1875–76689) with his mother at 52 Bedford Square.6 was Dr Patrick Black FRCP (1813–79), senior physician at After distancing himself (in 1882) from medical profes- Bart’s. A physician of the “old school”, he was apparently sional life due principally to ill health (see below), he lived at admired by Bridges.9 In 1876, he passed the MRCP (by exam- the Manor House, Yattendon, Berkshire (initially with his ination). On 8 June, however, he resigned as house physician mother).6 With Wooldridge, and the rector of Yattendon, to Black, and in December sent him a (humorous, Latin) fare- Henry Charles Beeching (1859–1919) (later to become Dean of well poem Carmen Elegiacum. (see below). Bridges then Norwich) he produced the Yattendon Hymnal (1895–99) which served as casualty physician for the years 1877–79 and vividly was “influential in the contemporary reform of hymnody and recorded his experience(s) (see below). the revival of sixteenth and seventeenth century music”.6 The St Bartholomew’s Journal records the following (at a Beeching was described as a “poet and critic of reputation” meeting of the St Bartholomew’s House-Committee held on and he was the husband of a niece of Bridges.3 He also wrote Tuesday 9 March 1875)10: “The following gentlemen were several other poems during these years.6 st appointed House Physicians for the year commencing 1 April http://pmj.bmj.com/ Bridges did not marry until 3 September 1884 (that is, after next, viz: Mr Robert Bridges M.B.Oxon., M.R.C.S. [sic] upon his medical career was at an end, see below); his wife was the recommendation of Dr Black . .”.Some two years later (on Monica—elder daughter of his neighbour, the celebrated Tuesday 17 July 1877) the same committee11: “ . proceeded architect Alfred Waterhouse RA (1830–1905)—by whom he to the election of two Casualty Physicians ...itwasResolved had one son (Edward [later 1st Baron Bridges]; 1892–1969) That Dr Bridges [M.B. Oxon., MRCP] [together with Dr and two daughters.78On his 80th birthday, a group of friends Champneys] be appointed Casualty Physicians. And their and admirers gave him a clavichord4—made by Mr Arnold charge was read to them”. On 14 November 1878, the House- 12 Dolmetsch (1858–1940), and engraved by Sir Emery Walker Committee was “summoned to receive the applications and on September 28, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. (1851–1933); a photograph of this event (reproduced in the testimonials of Candidates for the office of Assistant Physician British Medical Journal4) was taken by Lady Ottoline Morrell the same were submitted from the following, viz: Robert (1873–1938). Bridges died on 21 April 1930248 at his home Bridges, M.B. Oxon., M.R.C.P....Resolved that Dr Bridges Chilswell House, Boar’s Hill, Oxford, some three miles from [together with Dr Legg, Dr Moore, Dr Ormerod and Dr West] the city (to which he had moved in 19076). be admitted Candidates for the vacant office of Assistant Phy- sician”. But, at a General Court held on 27 November 187813: ST BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL “ . the Treasurer reported that . four of the gentlemen While at Oxford, Bridges’ younger brother Edward died (in admitted candidates by the House-Committee had since 1866); this event (and possibly Dolben’s death also) possibly retired from their candidature . .the Court by a shew of hands underlay his resolve to practise medicine.36An outline of his unanimously elected [John Wickham Legg (1843–1921)14 medical training (1869–74) has been provided by Phillips,9 M.D. Lond. F.R.C.P] to be the Junior Assistant Physician to this who has stressed the fact that at that time medical education Hospital.

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