Background
The son of Major Parsons of the Dragoons, who resided in Yorkshire, he was born at York in 1742.
The son of Major Parsons of the Dragoons, who resided in Yorkshire, he was born at York in 1742.
He was educated at Westminster School, becoming a king"s scholar in 1756. He graduated Bachelor of Arts 27 April 1763, and Master of Arts
In 1759, he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated on 19 June. 6 June 1766. In 1766 or 1767 he was elected the first professor of anatomy on the foundation of John Freind and Matthew Lee at Christ Church, Oxford. He graduated Bachelor of Medicine on 12 April 1769, and Doctor of Medicine 22 June 1772.
Parsons was elected reader in anatomy in the university in 1769, physician to the Radcliffe Infirmary 6 May 1772, and first clinical professor on Lord Lichfield"s foundation 1780-1785.
Under his direction an anatomical theatre was built at Oxford. Parsons was admitted a candidate of the Royal College of Physicians on 30 September 1774, and fellow a year later, 30 September 1775.
In 1784 he delivered the Harveian oration. Parsons died of fever on 9 April 1785, and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where there was a white marble gravestone to his memory.