John Robert Hume

He is cited as an example of a 19th-century medical career that arrived at a high position in the profession, without early qualifications.

He entered the medical service of the army as a hospital mate, was in Holland in 1799, and joined the 92nd Regiment of Foot as assistant surgeon in 1800.

[8] He attended the Duchess of Richmond's ball on 15 June, the eve of the Battle of Quatre Bras.

[9] On 18 June, the day of the Battle of Waterloo, he amputated the legs of Sir Alexander Gordon, who died,[10] and of Henry William Paget, 2nd Earl of Uxbridge, out of a number of operations.

[2] His patients included Marianne Patterson in 1824, shortly to marry the Duke's brother Richard.

He was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians on 9 July 1836, and on the following 1 September was appointed one of the metropolitan commissioners in lunacy.

[2] Following the resignation of William Frederick Chambers, Hume at this period also became Examining Physician to the East India Company.

[23] Hume was attacked and defended in The Lancet of the later 1840s, with other commissioners of lunacy, accused of being bedridden with gout, and a "sinecurist"; though he was active in inspections.