William Hunter
1718-1783

William Hunter was born in 1718 in East Kilbride, Scotland. He studied Theology at Glasgow University but left in 1736 without his degree. In 1737 William went to Hamilton to study surgery under the direction of Dr Cullen. In 1743 William went to study anatomy in Paris. He felt that a thorough knowledge of anatomy was the only solid foundation for medicine and good surgery. William began public lectures on anatomy in 1746 and became a member of the corporation of surgeons in 1746. With the lack of training spaces in hospitals, the demand for private anatomy schools increased rapidly. William Hunter soon became an accomplished lecturer and he eventually became one of the most successful anatomy teachers of his time. Hunter's career prospered and he became physician to Queen Charlotte, delivering the future King George IV. Hunter was still teaching anatomy in his Great Windmill Street Institute until his death in 1783.

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