John Fothergill

Born in Yorkshire on March 8, 1712, he trained in medicine at Edinburgh, continued his studies at St Thomas's Hospital in London, and went on to build a successful practice in the city. He was known not only as a physician but also as a Quaker, a plant collector, and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

His medical reputation rested in part on influential writings, including work on sore throat and observations associated with migraine. Alongside medicine, he developed a major botanic garden in what is now West Ham Park, reflecting a deep interest in plants and the wider scientific world.

He also had a strong philanthropic side. Sources connect him with the founding of Ackworth School in 1779, and his wider reputation is that of a generous public-minded figure who used his success to support education and good works. He died in London on December 26, 1780.