Hart, Ernest Abraham

Pessoa singular

Hart, Ernest Abraham

1835-1898

Born in Knightsbridge, London. Son of Septimus Hart, dentist. Educated at City of London school. Unable to attend university as a Jew, despite his scholarly prowess making him eligible for the University of Cambridge, he was allowed to transfer his scholarship to study medicine.

Student at St George's Hospital Medical School and Samuel Lane's school of medicine. Demonstrator of anatomy and surgical registrar at St George's Hospital.

Member of the Royal College of Surgeons 1856. House surgeon at St Mary's Hospital. Worked at William Coulson's general practice in Frederick Place, Old Jewry. Junior surgeon at the West London Hospital 1859; surgeon 1860. Ophthalmic surgeon at St Mary's Hospital 1863, aural surgeon 1865, dean of the medical school 1863.

Assistant at the Lancet. Editor of the British Medical Journal 1866 and life-long advocate of the British Medical Association. Advisor and editor at Smith, Elder & Co, including periodicals Medical Record and Sanitary Record. President of the Harveian Society of London 1868. Honorary degree of DCL by the University of Durham 1893.

Worked to improve the social position of the medical profession, including the conditions of naval assistant surgeons and military medical officers. Involved in sanitary reforms, including the conditions at workhouse infirmaries and barrack schools; he also exposed in 1872 baby farming practices and advocated the National Health Society, the abatement of smoke nuisance in large towns, better training and regulation for plumbers, the benefits of vaccination and medical education for women. Founded Medical Sickness, Annuity and Life Assurance Society in 1883. Collector of art. Published widely, including on diphtheria, hypnotism and public health.

Married Rosetta Levy in 1855 and Alice Rowlands in 1872; they had no children. Died in Brighton 1898; cremated at Woking.

Student register 1852 (No 4478); Dictionary of National Biography 1901