Background
The son of William Whistler of Elvington, Oxfordshire, he was born at Walthamstow in Essex in 1619.
The son of William Whistler of Elvington, Oxfordshire, he was born at Walthamstow in Essex in 1619.
He was educated at the school of Thame, Oxfordshire, and entered Merton College, Oxford, in January 1639. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1642. On 8 August 1642 he began the study of physic at the university of Leyden, where he graduated Doctor of Medicine
On 19 October 1645, having in the interval returned to Oxford to take his Master of Arts degree (8 February 1644). He was incorporated Doctor of Medicine at Oxford on 20 May 1647, and was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians on 13 December 1649. On 13 June 1648 he was elected Gresham Professor of Geometry, and was at the same time Linacre reader at Oxford.
He took care of wounded seamen in the First Anglo-Dutch War of 1652, and in October 1653 was asked to accompany Bulstrode Whitelocke to Sweden.
His first case was a broken arm, and his next a broken leg, and he himself set both. He spoke Latin and French, and wrote Latin verses on the abdication of Queen Christina of Sweden, which are printed in the Journal of the Swedish Embassy.
In July 1654 he returned to London. At the College of Physicians he delivered the Harveian oration in 1659, was twelve times censor, registrar from 1674 to 1682, treasurer in 1682, and in 1683 president
His house was in the college in Warwick Lane.
They walked together to view the ravages of the Great Fire of London of 1666. John Evelyn also liked his conversation. He was negligent as registrar, and as president of the College of Physicians took little care of its property.
Royal Society.
He was thought agreeable by Samuel Pepys, who often dined and supped with him.
