Dr. J. F. Payne says that he will always be regarded as, beyond dispute, one of the greatest of British surgeons, being one of the most brilliant operators whose achievements are upon record; he was a keen patron of athletic sports, especially boxing; his disposition was gay and genial, he was fond of society, and evidently popular, while to his patients he was always kind and tender-hearted.
On the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers in 1745, Mr. Cheselden was named in the Act of Parliament one of the Wardens of the new Company of Surgeons, he having been Junior Warden of the Barber-Surgeons that year. His will is a remarkable specimen of brevity and absence of formality:—
Being in perfect health I write this with my own hand and declare it to be my last Will and Testament. I give to my daughter W. J. Cotes five hundred pounds and all the rest and residue of my estate of what kind soever to my wife and make her full and sole Executrix administratrix and assign Witness my hand and seal. Willm Cheselden (L.S.) 24th March 1749/50.
Arms. Quarterly 1 and 4 Ar a chev. betw. three crosses moline gu. (Cheselden). 2. Ar. on a fesse indented sa. three bezants (Brough). 3. Or. an eagle displayed az. beaked and feet gu. (Mongomery).
AMBROSE DICKINS, Serjeant-Surgeon.
Ambrose Dickins (sometimes spelt Dickens) was the son of George Dickins of Riplington, in East Meon, Hampshire, gentleman, and was probably born about 1687. On the 17th February, 1702, he was apprenticed to Serjeant-Surgeon Charles Bernard for seven years, and on the 16th February, 1709, he was admitted to the Freedom and Livery of the Barber-Surgeons, when he was residing in James Street, Covent Garden. He married (before the 24th March, 1709) Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Bernard. On December 20th, 1721, he was elected Surgeon to Westminster Hospital. His old master, Charles Bernard, died in October, 1710, and it seems that Dickins succeeded him when quite a young man in the important office of Serjeant-Surgeon. In 1728 he was Warden of the Barber-Surgeons, and in 1729 Master of the Company. He was Surgeon to St. George’s Hospital 1733–38. On the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers in 1745, Mr. Dickins became an Assistant of the Surgeons’ Company and an Examiner of Surgeons. He probably died in 1747, as on 7th September in that year Mr. Cæsar Hawkins was appointed Serjeant-Surgeon in his place.
Dr. John Douglas, Bishop of Salisbury, in “The Criterion,” introduces Mr. Dickins’ name in an interesting paragraph. Dr. Douglas was a firm believer in the efficacy of the Royal touch for the King’s evil, and he gives some curious particulars of Mr. Dickins’ experience in this matter which are well worth referring to.
Arms. Ermine on a cross fleury sa. a leopard’s face or.