John Thorpe was an English physician, antiquarian and Fellow of the Royal Society.
Background
The eldest son of John Thorpe and his wife Ann, sister and coheiress of Oliver Combridge of Newhouse, Kent, he was born at his father"s house of Newhouse in the parish of Penshurst, Kent, on 12 March 1682. His father had an estate in the parishes of Penshurst, Lamberhurst, Tonbridge, and Chiddingstone.
Career
He was sent to Westerham grammar school, where the master was Thomas Manningham, and on 14 April 1698 matriculated at University College, Oxford, graduating Bachelor of Arts at Michaelmas 1701, Master of Arts on 27 June 1704, Bachelor of Medicine on 16 May 1707, and Doctor of Medicine in July 1710. He died on 30 November 1750 at Rochester, and was buried in the church of Stockbury. He had supported Thomas Hearne, Browne Willis and other scholars, and gave medical aid to many of the poor in his district.
Thorpe married Elizabeth, daughter of John Woodhouse of Shobdon, Herefordshire, and had one son John.