Sir Henry Marsh

Biography of Sir Henry Marsh

Henry Marsh first intended to become a farmer, then decided for the clergy, but changed again to surgery. His surgical career was soon abandoned, however, as he lost his right forefinger due to an injury he suffered during a section. Now finally into the study of medicine, he obtained his doctorate at Dublin in 1818, for two years undertook scientific journeys on the Continent and subsequently became assistant physician in Stephen’s Hospital in Dublin. In 1822, with Robert James Graves (1797-1853), James William Cusack (1788-1862), Samuel Wilmot (1790-1848), Arthur Jacob (1790-1874), et al, he established the Park Street Medical School, at which he taught pathology until 1927, when he was called as teacher of surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He gave up the latter position in 1832, became physician to the queen, was knighted a baronet in 1839, and in 1840 became president of the King and Queen’s College of Physicians.