John Ranby

John Ranby (1703–1773) was an English surgeon, who served in the household of King George II and wrote books on surgery.

The son of Joseph Ranby of St. Giles-in-the-Fields in Middlesex, an innholder, he put himself apprentice to Edward Barnard, foreign brother of the Company of Barber-Surgeons, on 5 April 1715.

He was present at the battle of Dettingen, and there had as a patient Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, the king's second son.

In 1745 Ranby's interest with the king and the government of the day helped the passing of the act of parliament constituting a corporation of surgeons distinct from that of the barbers.

[2] Messenger Monsey, a fellow medic, had a low moral opinion of him: "Ra[i]nby was the only man I ever heard coolly defend the use of laudanum in effecting his designs on women, which he confessed he had practised with success.