author
William Wagstaffe
1685–1725
Remembered as both a physician and a sharp satirist, this early 18th-century writer brought wit and learning to everything from medicine to public controversy. His collected works show a lively mind equally at home in serious argument and playful mockery.
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About the author
Born in 1685 in Cublington, Buckinghamshire, William Wagstaffe was educated at Northampton and Lincoln College, Oxford before building a medical career in London. He became physician to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and was also a fellow of the Royal Society.
Alongside his medical work, he wrote widely and is especially remembered for his satirical pieces. His writings were gathered after his death in Miscellaneous Works of Dr. William Wagstaffe, which helped preserve the range of his interests and his lively style.
He died on May 5, 1725. Though best known in the history of medicine, his mix of professional authority and literary wit makes him an appealing figure for readers interested in the lively intellectual world of early 18th-century Britain.