John Ayrton Paris

Born in Cambridge in 1785, John Ayrton Paris studied medicine and built an early career in Cornwall before establishing himself in London. He gained a reputation as a skilled physician and an energetic lecturer, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1821.

Paris wrote across a striking range of subjects, from chemistry and pharmacology to medical jurisprudence and health advice. His best-known book, Philosophy in Sport Made Science in Earnest, helped explain scientific ideas through entertaining scenes and has often been linked with the early history of the thaumatrope.

His standing in the profession continued to grow, and in 1844 he became president of the Royal College of Physicians, a post he held until his death in 1856. Today he is remembered both for his medical leadership and for his talent for turning science into something curious, practical, and readable.