William Becket (1684–1738) was an English surgeon and

antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...

Life

Becket was born at Abingdon, Berkshire. In the early years of the eighteenth century he was well known in London as a surgeon and an enthusiastic antiquary. He was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

on 11 December 1718, and read three papers on ''The Antiquity of the Venereal Disease'' at its meetings during the same year (''

Philosophical Transactions ''Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'' is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society. In its earliest days, it was a private venture of the Royal Society's secretary. It was established in 1665, making it the first journa ...

''. vi. 368, 467, 492), and one on another subject in 1724 (''Philosophical Transactions'' vii. 25). Becket was an original member of the Society of Antiquaries, which was effectively established in 1717, and was on close terms with

William Stukeley William Stukeley (7 November 1687 – 3 March 1765) was an English antiquarian, physician and Anglican clergyman. A significant influence on the later development of archaeology, he pioneered the scholarly investigation of the prehistoric ...

William Bowyer William Bowyer may refer to: Politicians * William Bowyer (15th century MP), in 1411 MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme * William Bowyer (died 1602), MP for Stafford *William Bowyer (Keeper of the Records), MP for Westminster and Keeper of the Records in ...

Browne Willis Browne Willis (16 September 1682 – 5 February 1760) was an antiquary, author, numismatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1708. Early life Willis was born at Blandford St Mary, Dorset, the eldest son of Thomas Wil ...

, and other antiquaries. He was for some years surgeon to St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark, but before 1736 he had retired to Abingdon, where he died 25 November 1738. Stukeley noted in his common-place book that Becket's papers were bought by

Edmund Curll Edmund Curll (''c.'' 1675 – 11 December 1747) was an English bookseller and publisher. His name has become synonymous, through the attacks on him by Alexander Pope, with unscrupulous publication and publicity. Curll rose from poverty to wealth ...

, who sold them to

Edward Milward Edward Milward (1712?–1757) was an English physician and historian of medicine. Life He was born about 1712, probably at Lindridge, Worcestershire, where his family resided. He was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, but left without graduat ...

Works

#'' New Discoveries relating to the Cure of Cancers'', 1711 and 1712. #''An Enquiry into the Antiquity and Efficacy of Touching for the King's Evil, with a Collection of Records'', 1722. John Anstis the elder gave Becket some assistance in this work. # ''Practical Surgery, illustrated and improved, with remarks on the most remarkable Cases, Cures, and Discussions in St. Thomas's Hospital'', 1740. # ''A Collection of Chirurgical Tracts'', 1740.

References

DNB references

These references are found in the DNB article referred to above. ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Becket, William 1684 births 1738 deaths English surgeons English antiquarians Fellows of the Royal Society Freemasons of the Premier Grand Lodge of England