author
John Freke
1688–1756
A pioneering English surgeon, he helped shape the moment when surgery began to stand apart from barbering as a serious medical profession. His career at St Bartholomew's Hospital also placed him at the forefront of early specialist eye care and medical teaching in 18th-century London.
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About the author
Born in London in 1688, John Freke trained under the surgeon Richard Blundell and went on to build a long career at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He became assistant surgeon there in 1726, later took charge of anatomical and surgical preparations, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1729.
Freke is remembered as one of the figures who helped move surgery toward a more distinct professional identity, separate from the old barber-surgeon tradition. At Barts he was also appointed to treat diseases of the eye, and he is often described as the hospital's first ophthalmic surgeon.
He wrote on both medicine and natural philosophy, including work on electricity, which shows the wide range of interests expected of an 18th-century man of science. He remained closely connected with St Bartholomew's for decades and died in 1756.