Regency Hot Spots: Mr. Heaviside’s Anatomical Collection

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In 14 Hanover Square, in the home of surgeon John Heaviside (cited in era periodicals as Heavyside), was a museum of anatomical specimens. Largely purchased from Henry Watkin’s collection, the specimens included various diseased human bones, insect specimens, tumors, organs, models, and casts.

Heaviside (1748-1828) taught at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and upon inheriting a sizeable sum from his father, set up his own “school” of anatomy at the fashionable address in Hanover Square (Turnbull, 2017).  In addition to his students, Heaviside opened his house Friday evenings through winter and spring to various gentlemen, which increased his fame but, as his obituary would suggest, also perhaps was for all the wrong reasons; attendees were reputedly there mostly for the coffee, tea, and sugar.

Sir Joseph Banks's MR HEAVISIDE of Ilanorer square Has a Friday evening meeting every week during the winter and spring of gentlemen of the medical profession and others in his noble museum of anatomy and natural history A respectable stranger known 10 any of his friends may easily obiain access to this very agrecable and insiruciive assembly The picture of London, for 1802

It was enough of a hot spot to feature mention in many London guides.  Heaviside would also get many future shout-outs in publications from various doctors and surgeons, when publishing observations about various medical conditions.

at Frankfort was eventually purchased by that Institution Mr Heaviside who has just retired from the profession of Surgery had deposited his stores in a plain but elegant building behind his late residence in George Street Hanover Square where they are now opened by Mr Delafons the new proprietor of the house for the inspection of his conversational parties The specimens of morbid anatomy as exemplified in various bones are particularly valuable and as the whole has been collected with equal expense research and judgment philosophy would be exceedingly benefitted by its consignment entire to one of our numerous scientific institutions The Crypt, Or Receptacle for Things Past, and West of England Magazine (1828)

Read more and view some relevant images: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums-and-archives/hunterian-museum/past-exhibitions/londons-lost-museums/john-heavisides-collection/

See a catalogue of the collection: Heaviside’s Museum : a catalogue of the extensive and valuable anatomical museum of the late J. Heaviside, Esq. F.R.S. F.A.S., &c. (surgeon extraordinary to the King). Pt. II … : which will be sold by auction (without the least reserve,) : Royal College of Surgeons of England : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 

Turnbull, P. (2017). Science, Museums and Collecting the Indigenous Dead in Colonial Australia. Germany: Springer International Publishing.

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