View source for James Parsons 1705-1770

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===[[name::James]] [[name::PARSONS]] [[date of birth::1705]]-[[date of death::1770]]===

====Biographical Note====
Born at [[place of birth::Barnstaple, Devon]] but brought up in Ireland, where his father was a [[occupation::barrackmaster]]. He was educated in [[location::Dublin]] before going to Paris to study medicine; he graduated MD from the [[education::University of Rheims]] in 1736. He then moved to London and became [[occupation::physician]] to the infirmary at St Giles; he also developed a private practice. He wrote extensively on medical and antiquarian subjects, with many papers published in the ''Philosophical Transactions'' of the [[organisations::Royal Society]], where he was elected a fellow in 1741. He was also a fellow of the [[organisations::Society of Antiquaries]] and [[organisations::Society of Arts]], and became a licentiate of the [[organisations::Royal College of Physicians]] in 1751. He was also noted as a skilled musician and artist.

====Books====
Parsons used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 22823); the extent of his library is not known, but much of it was sold shortly before his death, in 1769, when he was in failing health. He also collected natural historical and anatomical specimens.

====Sources====
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*[https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/james-parsons Inspiring Physicians, Royal College of Physicians].
*Gambier Howe, E. R. J. ''Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum''. London, 1903-4.
*Hudson, Giles. [https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/21461 "Parsons, James (1705–1770), physician and antiquary."] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 
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[[Category:Physicians]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries]]
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