author

James Gillman

1782–1839

Remembered as the physician who welcomed Samuel Taylor Coleridge into his Highgate home, he was also a practicing surgeon and writer whose name survives through one of the earliest major accounts of the poet’s final years.

1 Audiobook

The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1838

The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1838

by James Gillman

About the author

An English surgeon, apothecary, and biographer, he is best known for his close friendship with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In 1816, Coleridge entered his care in Highgate, and the long association that followed made Gillman an important firsthand witness to the poet’s later life.

His best-known book, The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1838), grew out of that relationship. Because it was written by someone who lived with and treated Coleridge for many years, it has remained a valuable early source for readers interested in the poet’s character, health, and daily life.

Some reference sources give his dates as about 1782 to 1839 rather than with complete certainty. I couldn’t confirm a suitable verified portrait image from the sources I checked, so none is included here.