On this day
A look through the Barbers' Company archive and library to highlight important and interesting events during the Company's history.
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On this day in 1545, surgeon Robert Balthrop (1522-1591) was admitted to the Freedom of the Company of Barbers and Surgeons of London. The son of Richard Balthrop, ‘midwife’ to Jane Seymour, he had been apprenticed to Nicholas Alcock, surgeon to Queen Jane’s son Edward VI. Alcock bequeathed to Balthrop in 1550 his “russet worsted […]
April 4, 2025
On this Day
On this day in 1682/3, Alexander Geekie (1655-1727) was admitted to the Freedom of the Company by Redemption, becoming Master in 1719. Surgeon, Fellow of the Royal Society from 1710, member of the Society of Antiquaries, Geekie was born in Baldowrie, Perthshire, later settling and making his career in London. Geekie assembled a collection of […]
February 11, 2025
On this Day
On this day in 1308 the presentation and admission of Richard le Barber as Supervisor or Master of the Barbers took place at Guildhall before the Court of Aldermen : Richard le Barbour dwelling opposite to the Church of Allhallows the Less, was chosen and presented by the Barbers of London, on Tuesday next after […]
January 16, 2025
On this Day
On this day in 1609 Sir William Paddy was replaced as Reader of Anatomy to the Company by Matthew Gwinne. The Court Minutes recorded: Att this Court upon the motion made by Sr William Paddy Knighte and at his earnest request and suite made to this Courte and uppon the surrenderinge up of his place […]
December 1, 2024
On this Day
On this day in 1556, Henry Machyn recorded in his diary the funeral of Sir John Ayliffe (or Aylef): “The xx of October was bered ser John Olyff knyght and altherman, and sum-tym he was surganttunto kyng Henry the viijth, and after he was shreyff of London; and he had levyd tylle the next yere […]
October 17, 2024
On this Day
On this day in 1741, the Court Minutes recorded that “John Thrift the Executioner this day attended on a complaint made against him by the Beadles for obstructing the Bodys being brought from Tyburne to the Hall for dissection and threatning to prevent the Company’s measures for obtaining the same, when after he had been […]
September 4, 2024
On this Day
On this day in 1567, surgeon Thomas Gale “citizen and barbour surgion of London beinge sicke in bodye but whole in mynde and of good and perfect memory” made his will. In it a legacy to the Masters of the Company of Barbers and Surgeons of London was promised, on condition that they brought his […]
September 5, 2024
On this Day
On this day in 1867 the Court Minutes recorded that: “It was Resolved On the motion of Mr Sallis seconded by Mr Carter That the sum of Ten pounds be contributed by the Company towards the proposed pic nic excursion of the members of the Court and their Ladies and friends to Weybridge” The sum […]
September 5, 2024
On this Day
On this day in 1628, a letter was written to the Company by the Lords of the Privy Council at Whitehall requesting the impressment of 16 surgeons for service at La Rochelle “best experienced in the care of wounds made by gunshott.” The previous November, several surgeons of the Company had been summoned to Portsmouth […]
July 8, 2024
On this Day
On this day in 1813, George Rowney (1792-1870) was admitted to the Freedom of the Company by patrimony, his occupation listed as ‘colourman.’ George was the son of Thomas Rowney (1756-1832), to whom George had been apprenticed in 1806. Thomas Rowney was admitted to the Company in 1780 and became Master in 1813. In 1783 […]
July 8, 2024
On this Day