John Collins Warren (1778-1856): An American surgeon in London
BMJ 2012; 345 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e8251 (Published 17 December 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e8251
- David K C Cooper, professor of surgery
- 1University of Pittsburgh, Thomas E Starzl Transplantation Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Correspondence to: D K C Cooper cooperdk{at}upmc.edu
- Accepted 5 November 2012
John Collins Warren was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1778, into a family noted for its many eminent medical practitioners (web appendix).1 These included Warren’s uncle, a doctor killed in the early stages of the War of American Independence, and father, one of the founders of Harvard Medical School. Although professionally successful and respected (box), Warren was a reserved and disciplined man, and few in Boston had much affection for him.
John Collins Warren’s medical career
1778: Born 1 August 1778, in Boston, Massachusetts
1797: Graduated from Harvard College
1799-1802: Continued medical studies in London, Edinburgh, and Paris
1802: Entered surgical practice in Boston
1806: Adjunct professor in anatomy and surgery at Harvard College
1810: Lobbied for Harvard Medical School to move from the “college town” of Cambridge over the river to Boston, which had a much larger population of potential patients
1815: Promoted to full professor, on the death of his father. Also gave lectures on physiology and midwifery
1816-19: First dean of Harvard Medical School
1812: A founder (and an editor) of the New England Medical Journal
1819: Honorary medical degree bestowed on him by Harvard University, his only medical qualification
1821: A founder of the Massachusetts General Hospital, serving as its first surgeon
1837: Second visit to London
1845: On 20 January, performed operation under unsuccessful nitrous oxide anaesthesia (administered by Horace Wells)
1846: On 16 October, performed the first operation under successful ether anaesthesia (administered by William Morton)
1847: Presented his collection of anatomical and pathological specimens to Harvard University, forming the basis of the Warren Anatomical Museum
1851: Third visit to London
1856: Died 4 May, in Boston, Massachusetts
Warren began to study medicine …
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