The hospital was founded by six Dublin surgeons, George Duany, Patrick Kelly, Nathaniel Handson, John Dowdall, Francis Donany and Peter Brenan, at their own expense, as the Charitable Infirmary in Cook Street, Dublin, in 1718.

[2] In 1786, when the new Four Courts were about to be erected on the quays, an agreement was reached with the Earl of Charlemont to allow the hospital to move into his former mansion at 14 Jervis Street, which happened in October 1796.

The hospital occupied a central place in the most populous part of the city, being close to the markets, railway termini, goods stores and shipping.

[4] The hospital staged Araby, an oriental fête, in 1894, to raise much-needed funds.

[5] In 1931, Langford House on nearby Mary Street was demolished and replaced with a nurses school associated with the hospital.