PETER CHAMBERLEN or CHAMBERLAN
[From Patent Office History material ]
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In England, in 1598, physicians and surgeons were in two distinct professions. The profession of surgeon was an outgrowth of the profession of barber, resulting in the modern red-and-white barber pole, reminiscent of bloody bandages placed around a white pole to dry. The physicians of the day would not perform surgery. It was 1598 when Peter Chamberlen the Elder was inducted into the guild of barber surgeons. It is known that the first practical obstetrical forceps were invented by a member of the Chamberlen family, and the probable inventor was Peter Chamberlen the Elder. Although he was a barber surgeon rather than a medical doctor, he was surgeon to Queen Anne, wife of King James I of England. He had such an obstetrical reputation that he aroused the envy of the Royal College of Physicians, who had him thrown into Newgate Prison for practice of medicine without a license. He was released from prison by order of his patroness the Queen. He maintained his obstetrical forceps as a trade secret and was able to deliver the babies of women who would otherwise die without the forceps. He died in 1631. Peter Chamberlen the Elder was succeeded in the family secret by his brother Peter Chamberlen the Younger, another barber surgeon with a fine obstetrical reputation, who was constantly embroiled in controversy with the Royal College of Physicians. Peter Chamberlen the Younger had a son, also named Peter Chamberlen, who was the first of the family to obtain a medical degree (actually several medical degrees), and was thus the first Doctor Peter Chamberlen. In 1628, he became a member of the [Pg 10] Royal College of Physicians. He had a large obstetrical practice. It was believed at the time that he had a special instrument with which he assisted women in labor. Doctor Peter Chamberlen was a shrewd businessman. An investigation made at the time revealed that he frequently demanded a large fee for his services. Three sons of Doctor Peter Chamberlen were obstetricians -- Hugh Senior, Paul, and John Chamberlen. They continued the use of the trade secret forceps, giving the family a continued monopoly in the safe delivery of women in labor. In 1670, Doctor Hugh Chamberlen Sr. offered to sell the secret to the personal physician of the king of France, but the sale was not made. He did later sell the secret to a Dutch physician, who maintained an obstetrical monopoly in Amsterdam for another sixty years, until another Dutch physician published the secret of the forceps in 1732. For over a century, women around the world had died in childbirth because the Chamberlen family had no effective way of profiting from the family invention except by maintaining it as a trade secret. Extracted from “The Dictionary of National Biography” CHAMBERLEN, Peter, the younger, (1572-1626), younger brother of Peter Chamberlen the elder [q.v.], although bearing the same christian name, was born at Southampton on 8 Feb. 1572, a posthumous son. Electing, like his brother, to follow medecine, he became in due time a member of the Barber Surgeons' Company. About 1660 [sic - 1600?], when residing in the parish of St Anne's, Blackfriars, he obtained a license from the Bishop of London to practise midwifery, and by his skill therein acquired considerable reputation and wealth. He possessed the family secret as to the midwifery forceps, and often incurred the censure of the College of Physicians. in October 1610 he sought to put an end to a long series of prosecutions, which had their origin in his want of medical diplomas, by joining the college, and appearing before the censors was examined for the first time. We are not told what the result was, but as he never proceeded further, it is probable that he was rejected for insufficient knowledge of his profession. In 1616 he interested himself in an attempt to organise the midwives of London into a company. On the petition being referred to the consideration of the college, they reported unfavourably of the scheme. It was afterwards revived in 1634 by Chamberlen's eldest son, Dr. Peter Chamberlen, only to meet with a similar fate. Peter Chamberlen the younger, dying at his house in the parish of St Anne, Blackfriars, in August 1626 (Probate Act Book, 1626), was buried on the 16th at Downe in Kent, in accordance with the wish expressed in his will. His will, as of London, surgeon, bearing date 12 Aug. 1626, was proved on the 22nd following (Reg. in PCC 106, Hele). He had married Sara, daughter of William de Laune, a French Protestant clergyman and refugee, and a licentiate of the College of Physicians. By her, who predeceased him, he had a family of five sons (of whom Peter is noticed below) and three daughters. [Aveling's the Chamberlens and the Midwifery Forceps, pp 15-29] PCC Will, “Petri Chambrelan” - Peter Chambrelan of London, surgeon - dated 12 August 1626. To the poore of the parish of Sainte Anne in the Blackfryars where I now dwell, three hundred pounds- To the poore in the parish of Downe in Kent, three hundred pounds- To the poore of the French Church in London, five pounds - Three youngest sonnes, Nathaniell, Henry & Robert; eldest sonne Peter; daughter Anne, eight hundred pounds, at 21 or marriage; sonne William 100 pounds at 24 yeares - My brother Peter CHAMBRELAN the elder , my nephew Peter SYMOND, merchant, Executors - overseer my cosen Abraham CHAMBRELAN of London, merchant. Signed and sealed, Peter Chambrelan. Witnessed by Ffr. MOSS[?], Noty. publique; Henrie .......; ......... ........ |
