John Atkins (naval surgeon)

In 1707 he was in some small actions with the French in the Channel, and in 1711, he served in the man-of-war HMS Lion at the battle of Vigo Bay.

Atkins cut it off above the elbow and sat up two whole nights with the patient afterwards, ‘supposing a tenderness and respect would engage his good opinion and consequently his interest.’ This interested attention did not gain its object, for Captain Galfridus gave no thanks for it, being, as Atkins bitterly observes, ‘the reverse of his brother (Sir Robert), loving cheapness in all jobs’ (Navy Surgeon, 137).

They visited Sierra Leone, Wydah, the Gaboon, Elmina, and captured at Cape Lopez 270 pirates and 10,000l.

When the pirates were tried, Atkins was made registrary, and complains that for twenty-six hard days' work he only received as many pounds.

Three or four of the crew died every day for six weeks, and the surgeon became purser for lack of another survivor fit for the office.

He shows that there was no evidence of a general cannibalism in any tribe, but mentions how the captain of a slave ship made an enslaved African eat the liver of another as a punishment.