BRIGHT, Richard (1789-1858). Physician.
Small archive including an Autograph Letter Signed to his father, 3 pages 4to (stain at head of first page), 11 Savile Row, 9-10 January 1835. A group of manuscript and printed material relating to his work and family life, 13 items in all, 4to and 8vo (a few seal tears, creasing, light foxing and dust-staining), 1817-1842 where dated.

After studying medicine at Edinburgh University and Guy's Hospital and touring the continent, Bright was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1820 and appointed full physician at Guy's in 1824. He excelled in his acute powers of observation and draughtsmanship, and was also a keen and knowledgeable amateur geologist. He won international acclaim with his work on diseases of the kidney, and in particular the clinical manifestations of nephritis, or Bright's disease. After retiring from Guy's in 1844, he devoted himself to private practice, his patients including Lord Macaulay, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Tennyson.

The collection offers glimpses into Bright's domestic, public and professional life and includes: an autograph letter signed by Bright to his father, about his work ('.during great part of the Daylight I am at Guys where I am obliged to be every day now that I have charge of the Clinical ward.'), his children, election matters and the success of his brother-in-law Sir William Webb Follett (9-10 January 1835); a joint autograph letter by Bright's father and sister about family and social matters (24 August 1830); two notes from patients requesting Bright's help (undated); a printed and manuscript notice of a committee meeting at the London Fever Hospital (1831); a Spanish licence allowing Bright to stay in Madrid for two months (15 April 1817); a letter from a patron introducing the Scottish sculptor Lawrence MacDonald (1831); a bill from the bookseller Samuel Highley (1830); a bill from Perry, cook and confectioner (1831) and another from a child-bed linen warehouse (1830); printed terms for the use of the Royal York Baths, addressed to Bright; and a passport for Caroline and Constance Bright to travel on the continent (1884).
[No: 25428]