Humphrey Ridley 1653-1708

Humphrey RIDLEY 1653-1708

Biographical Note

Born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, son of Thomas Ridley. Matriculated at Merton College, Oxford 1671, but did not graduate; went to the University of Leiden where he graduated MD in 1679, and was incorporated as MD at Cambridge in 1688. Moved to London, where he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1694. In conjunction with his medical practice, he published the anatomy of the brain in 1695, and Observationes quaedam medico-practicae in 1703.

Books

Ridley's will has no mention of his books, disposing of his estate amongst his wife and children, and directing his wife "if she think fit sell my household goods and furniture after my decease for the benefit of my daughter". His library was sold by auction in London, beginning 21 June 1708; no catalogue survives, but the sale was advertised in The Daily Courant. Ridley's travel journal and some of his medical papers are among the Sloane manuscripts in the British Library (Sloane mss 1502, 1504, 4033).

Characteristic Markings

None of Ridley's books have been identified.

Sources

• Will of Humphrey Ridley, The National Archives PROB 11/502/134.
• Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues 1676-1800. St Philip, 2010.
• Moore, Norman, and Michael Bevan. "Ridley, Humphrey (1653–1708), physician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.