One of the 'Blue Plaque' memorials on King's Mead House in King's Road, Chelsea commemorates this Scots Ulsterman who settled in Chelsea after spending time (1685-6) as physician to the governor of Jamaica. He had bought the estates of the Manor of Chelsea from the Cheyne family in 1712 and his was the last family to live in the Manor House sited hereabouts. When he died the site was redeveloped with the building of 19 to 26 Cheyne Walk. Whilst resident here he was physician-general to the army, secretary to the Royal Society and physician to George II. His name has been given to a considerable number of the nearby streets and squares.

As for any medicine man up to the 20th century, but he took it further than most, one of his major interests was the medicinal use of plants. During his time in Jamaica he collected some 800 species. In 1722 these went to the Chelsea Physic Garden, where he had studied as a young man, when he presented the Apothecaries' Company with the grounds which they had previously leased. He also collected a major library. The British Museum received some 50,000 books and 3,500 manuscripts on his death.

O/S Co-ords:2723.7764
Source(s):

Chambers Biographical Dictionary

Chelsea

The Blue Plaque Guide to London Homes