Thomas Vicary

He was described as "but a meane practiser in Maidstone … that had gained his knowledge by experience, until the King advanced him for curing his sore leg"[1] Henry VIII advanced him to the position of sergeant-surgeon to the Royal Household; and he became a leading surgeon in the City of London becoming the first master of the Company of Barber-Surgeons and again on three further occasions.

He played a leading role in the 1540 Act of Union of the two guilds, appearing in Hans Holbein the Younger's painting showing the King handing the charter to Vicary himself.

[2] Vicary obtained an annual right to the cadavers of four executed criminals for the Barber-Surgeons, and established the first formal teaching of anatomy at their hall.

[4] In 1548, he was appointed resident surgical governor of St Bartholomew's Hospital, a post he held until his death.

[1] The Royal College of Surgeons maintains an annual lecture in his honour.