Person Woodward; John (1665 - 1728); physician, natural historian, and antiquary Woodward John physician, natural historian, and antiquary 1665 - 1728 British Male Derbyshire, England, Europe 1 May 1665 16650501 At his apartments in Gresham College, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe 25 April 1728 17280425 Burial: Westminster Abbey, London, England, Europe (1 May 1728)

Sir Ralph Dutton's house at Sherborne (before 1692) Gresham College, London (1692-1728)

Physician Geology Botany Antiquarianism Education: Apprenticed to a linen draper; pupil of Peter Barwick FCP; MD (Lambeth 1695); incorporated at Cambridge Career: Gresham Professor of Physic (1692-death); Goulstonian Lecturer (1710); first British author to publish systematic classification and desription of minerals Memberships: Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (1702/3) Woodward was assisted in obtaining the post of Professor of Physic at Gresham College through Peter Barwick, physician to Charles II. In 1718, Woodward published his only medical work, 'The State of Physick and of Diseases', in which he proposed an alternative treatment for smallpox. It was after this publication, that he allegedly was involved in a sword fight with Richard Mead (FRS 1703), with whose method for smallpox treatments he disagreed. Woodward also wrote extensively on natural history and geology, including instructions for making such observations and collections. He was a benefactor to the University of Cambridge and his collection formed the nucleus of the Woodwardian Museum. In his will, he also founded the Woodwardian Professorship of Geology. Royal Society roles: Council 1696, 1698-1699 Committees and panels: Committee to consider new statutes of the Academie des Sciences at Paris (1699) Proposed on 22 November 1693; Corresponded e.g. with Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (FRS 1703) on natural history of Switzerland (1700s); Insulted Sir Hans Sloane (FRS 1685) at a Council meeting when he was reading his paper and refused to apologise - he was ejected from Council (1710) Fellow 30/11/1693 Robert Hooke 1710 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Ward; Hunter; Venn; ODNB References: Armytage, W H G. 1954-55. 'The Royal Society and the Apothecaries', in Notes and Records, vol. 11, pp. 22-37 De Beer. 1953. 'Sir Hans Sloane, FRS, 1660-1753', in Notes and Records, vol. 10, pp. 81-84 Fontes da Costa, P. 2002. 'The Culture of Curiosity at The Royal Society in the first half of the eighteenth century', in Notes and Records, vol. 56, pp. 147-166 Jacquot, J. 1953. 'Sir Hans Sloane and French Men of Science', in Notes and Records, vol. 10, pp. 85-98 Levine, J M. 1977. 'Dr Woodward's shield: history, science and satire in Augustan England' (Berkeley) Smith, H. 2001. 'English 'feminist' writings and Judith Drake's 'An essay in defence of the female sex' (1696)', in Historical Journal, vol. 44(3), pp. 727-748 Woodward J, IM006644.jpg ©The Royal Society International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribRaw=Woodward%2C+John RCN: R65090 RCN: R65089 RCN: R65087 RCN: R65093 RCN: R65091 RCN: R65088 RCN: R65094 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH9327 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-19619 1 May 1665 - 25 Apr 1728 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 01/12/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA6100 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 02/04/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/50037252 868e7063-1235-4d45-95fd-d1e91f912b6b