On this day in 1676 Edward Arris, distinguished surgeon and Master of the Company in 1651, died two years after his wife Mary. Their marriage had lasted 60 years and produced 23 children, only one of whom (Thomas) survived their mother.
A 1651 portrait of Arris and Sir Charles Scarborough performing an anatomical dissection remains at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall to this day.
Edward and Mary were buried in the church of St Sepulchre without Newgate, where their memorial plaque can still be seen. The inscription for Edward Arris reads:
“Edward Arris Esq gave to ye company of Chyrurgeons 30l for an anatomy lecture & to the Hospital of St Bartholomew 24l both yearly forever to Christ Church Hospital 100l & 50l towards rebuilding of this church; and several large gifts to the poor of this parish, wherein he was born. And all these in his life time. Hee deceased the 28 May 1676 aged 85 and lyeth buryed by his wife.”
The money Arris provided to the Company in 1645 – a benefaction he attempted to keep secret – founded six lectures and a dissection in the Inigo Jones Anatomy Theatre annually. His name (along with that of another Master of the Company) and these lectures live on today as the Arris and Gale Lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons.
