John Mell (d. 1579) was one possessor of the keepership of the

Bethlem Royal Hospital Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital and Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in London. Its famous history has inspired several horror books, films and TV series, most notably '' Bedlam'', a 1946 film with ...

, or "Bedlam", who began his role as keeper in 1576, following Richard Munnes (a draper) and then Edward Rest (a grocer). Mell's occupation is unknown, but he was appointed directly by "the lord mayor and court of aldermen," and was responsible to report to the "three surveyors of Bedlem." Mell was in part responsible for the poor state of the hospital, as he dishonestly refused to give account of any legacies the hospital received, and even "discouraged the benevolent from giving at all," and was "grossly insult ng towards the surveyors. In July 1579, Mell was reported to have been dismissed, due to his abuse towards the surveyors and by committing "other disorders jointly with his wife." Defiant at the dismissal, Mell resisted until his death in December of that same year, at which point the post was freed and given to Roland Slethord (a clothworker).

References

{{England-bio-stub People involved with mental health 16th-century English people 1579 deaths Mental health in England