He was born in Sussex, his mother being Dorothy, daughter of Captain E. Maplesden of Marsden, a naval officer.

[1] In 1637 he obtained the degree of M.D., and in the same year, on 22 December was admitted at once candidate and fellow of the College of Physicians, of which he was afterwards twice censor, in 1641 and 1650.

In 1653, during the First Anglo-Dutch War, he was attending the seamen of the fleet after Robert Blake's prolonged engagement in February of that year.

When Fanshawe, after his capture at the battle of Worcester, was kept a prisoner in London, he fell very sick from scurvy, and Bathurst interceded for him with Cromwell, who, on the strength of the doctor's medical certificate, obtained at the council chamber the order for Fanshawe's liberation, overruling objections of Sir Harry Vane.

Bathurst married Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of Brian Willance, Esq., of Clints, Yorkshire,[2] and had a numerous family.