John Coakley Lettsome
Dr John Coakley Lettsome (1744–1815) was an English physician and philanthropist. He was born into the Quaker community on the island of Little Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. He studied medicine at St Thomas's Hospital in London and at Leiden University and founded the Medical Society of London in 1773. In 1770 he became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and in 1771 a fellow of the Royal Society. Afterwards he joined many other medical and scientific societies. For many years his income amounted to several thousands, but his great munificencHe was a fellow of the Royal Society and a founder-member of the Royal Humane Society (1774) and initiated the Sea-bathing Infirmary at Margate (1791). Lettsome was a prominent abolitionist and freed the slaves which he inherited from his father in the Virgin Islands.
- Shelfmark W/K-6-2
- Jan Baptista van Helmont. Ortus medicinae, id est initia physicae inaudita progressus medicinae nouus, in morborum vltionem ad vitam longam Authore Ioan. Baptista van Helmont. 1667.
- Printed label on front pastedown, with motto 'Dum Spiras Spes': John Coakley Lettsom, M.D. F.R.S. London. No. [in MS:] 1786.
- Presentation label on front free endpaper: by Revd Canon Holland this 1st day of Jany. 1895.