Person Cowper; William (c 1666 - 1709); surgeon and anatomist Cowper William surgeon and anatomist Cooper c 1666 - 1709 British Male Petersfield, Sussex, England c 1666 1666 Petersfield, Sussex 08 March 1709 17090308 Burial: St Nicholas Church, Bishop's Sutton

Boswell Court, London; Essex Street, London; Wormley, Hertfordshire

Surgeon Anatomy Education: Apprenticed to William Bignall (1681) and then to John Fletcher, surgeons of London Career: Practised in London (1691); published works on anatomy, incorporating illustrations by Gothofridus Bidloo (FRS 1696), which gave rise to an exchange of acrimonious pamphlets; began to suffer from dropsy and retired to Petersfield (1708) Memberships: Barber-Surgeons' Company (1691) Parents: Richard Cowper of Petersfield In the Philosophical Transactions of November 1699 (21, 364–9) Cowper described the urethral glands, which he termed glandula mucosae, that now bear his name. Highly regarded in his time, Cowper's reputation endured despite the Bidloo controversy. He contributed to medical literature, was recognized for his anatomical expertise at the trial of Spencer Cowper, and earned praise from contemporaries like James Douglas. Cowper's extensive collection of specimens and drawings found their way into the Royal Society, the British Library, and the Hunterian Collection. The Bidloo affair involved Cowper's critique of Bidloo's plates in "Anatomy of Humane Bodies" (1698), leading to accusations of plagiarism. Despite controversy, Cowper's work became a standard anatomy text and was republished multiple times. His contributions extended to glandular studies, comparative anatomy, and illustrations for Edward Tyson's works. Cowper also played a role in James Drake's "Anthropologia Nova" (1707). Fellow 11/01/1699 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Hunter References: P Fontes da Costa, 'The Culture of Curiosity at The Royal Society in the first half of the eighteenth century', NR 2002 vo l56 pp 147-166 Notes: Proposed by Edward Tyson. In DNB entry Petersfield is said to be in Sussex, although Gazetteer says Hampshire. Copwer, W_IM000972.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 RCN 34416 RCN 23427 RCN 34415 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH2026 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-21155 c 1666 - 8 Mar 1709 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 13/12/2023 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7335 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 20/12/2023 RS_NET\VidaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/31987109 44e7702c-dec4-489a-89cb-269905315ee0