Axel Munthe was a Swedish-born physician whose professional trajectory stretched from the rigorous neurological clinics of Paris to the private chambers of the Swedish royal family. Beyond his medical practice, he gained international recognition as the author of The Story of San Michele, a memoir that chronicled his experiences with patients and his deep attachment to the Italian island of Capri.
Medical Training and Practice
Born in 1857 at Döderhults parish, Munthe attended Uppsala University before moving to Paris to complete his medical studies. In the French capital, he trained under Jean-Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière hospital, though he later publicly rejected his teacher's theories on hypnotism. He initially established a medical practice in Paris, catering largely to the local Scandinavian artistic community. In 1884, he traveled to Naples to provide assistance during a cholera outbreak.
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During an 1875 trip to Italy, Munthe visited the island of Capri, where he discovered the ruins of a chapel dedicated to San Michele. He purchased the property in 1887 and personally oversaw its restoration. To sustain the project, he opened a medical practice in Rome in 1890, dividing his time between the capital and his home on Capri, where he eventually established a bird sanctuary.
Royal Service and Relationships
In 1892, Munthe became personal physician to Crown Princess Victoria of Baden, continuing in this role until her death as Queen consort in 1930. He advised the Queen to spend her winters in Capri to manage her respiratory conditions. His life included two marriages: first to Ultima Hornberg in 1880, and later to Hilda Pennington-Mellor in 1907, with whom he had two sons, Peter and Malcolm.
Fast facts
- Born: 1857, Döderhults parish
- Died: 1949, Storkyrkoförsamlingen
- Education: Uppsala University
- Notable Work: The Story of San Michele
- Medical Focus: Psychiatry
- Burial Site: Protestant Cemetery, Rome
- Citizenship: Sweden
Questions readers ask
What was Axel Munthe's primary occupation?
He was a physician and psychiatrist who also worked as a writer and personal physician to the Swedish royal family.
Where did Axel Munthe spend his later years?
He divided his time between Rome and the island of Capri, where he resided at his restored home, the Villa San Michele.
Achievements
- Royal Order of the Polar Star
- Royal Order of Vasa
- Order of Berthold I.
- Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy
- knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
- Notable work: The Story of San Michele
