Background
Richard Fowler was born in London, and though he lived to a greater age than any other member of the College of Physicians, Fowler was of feeble health when a child.
Richard Fowler was born in London, and though he lived to a greater age than any other member of the College of Physicians, Fowler was of feeble health when a child.
He was educated at Edinburgh and studied medicine there, and visited Paris as a student. Returning to Edinburgh in 1790 he continued his medical studies, and graduated Doctor of Medicine
On 12 September 1793 with a dissertation ‘De Inflammatione.’
He was admitted licentiate of the College of Physicians of London 21 March 1796, and settled in practice at Salisbury, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was at once elected physician to the Salisbury Infirmary, and held the office till 1847. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1802, and often took part in the meetings of the British Association, to attend which and to read a paper there he made the journey from Salisbury to Aberdeen in 1859, when close upon ninety-four years of age.
He was successful in practice, and occupied a leading position in Salisbury for many years.
He died at Milford, near Salisbury, in his ninety-eighth year, an age reached by very few persons in the annals of medicine.
Royal Society]
He was also a member of the celebrated ‘Speculative Society,’ to which he contributed essays.