Background
Ash was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, the son of a brewer, and was educated at Trinity College, Oxford. Was Bachelor of Arts in 1743, M. A. in 1746, Bachelor of Medicine in 1750, and Doctor of Medicine
Ash was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, the son of a brewer, and was educated at Trinity College, Oxford. Was Bachelor of Arts in 1743, M. A. in 1746, Bachelor of Medicine in 1750, and Doctor of Medicine
Trinity College.
In 1754. He settled at Birmingham, and soon acquired a large practice. Birmingham General Hospital was founded chiefly through his influence, and he was its first physician. While actively engaged in practice he became affected with temporary mental derangement, for which it is said he found a cure in the study of mathematics and botany.
He was admitted a candidate of the Royal College of Physicians 22 December 1786, and in the following year resigned his office in Birmingham and removed to London.
He became fellow of the College of Physicians 22 December 1787, and afterwards practised with success in London.
He filled the offices of censor of the college in 1789 and 1793. Was Harveian orator in 1790, Gulstonian lecturer in 1791, and Croonian lecturer in 1793.
He died 18 June 1798, and was buried in Kensington Church.
His portrait, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, is preserved in the hospital at Birmingham, and was engraved by Bartolozzi in 1791. In the picture, above his right elbow is the foundation block of the then medical school. This became part of the Accident Hospital, and is now in the block of redeveloped flats, Holloway Head near the Peace Gardens.
He is also commemorated by a blue plaque, affixed to the House of Fraser store in Temple Row, Birmingham.
Royal Society.
