The English Physitian, published in 1652, introduced a vast audience to pharmaceutical lore by documenting hundreds of medicinal plants in plain language. Its author, Nicholas Culpeper, challenged the established medical hierarchy in 17th-century England by advocating for affordable, herbal-based treatments and rejecting the restrictive, expensive practices of the professional medical elite who often relied on inaccessible Latin texts.
Early influences and education
Born in Surrey in 1616, Culpeper was the son of a cleric. Following his father's death, he moved to Isfield to reside with his maternal grandfather, the Reverend William Attersoll. Under Attersoll's guidance, he gained proficiency in Latin and Greek while developing an early interest in astronomy and medical literature. His grandmother further expanded his knowledge by teaching him about medicinal herbs, an interest he maintained throughout his life by cataloguing plants in the countryside.
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Culpeper entered the University of Cambridge at age 16. After completing an apprenticeship, he married 15-year-old Alice Field in 1640. Her status as an heiress allowed him to establish a pharmacy in Spitalfields, London. Operating outside the jurisdiction of the City of London, he provided free services to patients, arguing that medical care should not be a commercial privilege. He frequently treated up to 40 patients in a single morning, prioritizing direct examinations over traditional methods like urine analysis.
Conflict and the Civil War
The English Civil War reshaped Culpeper's career. Facing accusations of witchcraft and professional pressure from the Society of Apothecaries, he joined the London Trained bands in 1643 under Philip Skippon. He served at the First Battle of Newbury, where he performed surgery but sustained a serious chest wound that permanently affected his health. Upon returning to London, he engaged in political activism, collaborating with William Lilly on texts predicting the downfall of the monarchy.
Medical philosophy and legacy
Culpeper sought to democratize medicine by translating technical works into English. He condemned his contemporaries for their reliance on toxic remedies and their high fees, which he believed exploited the poor. By combining Galenic theory with astrology, he developed a systematic approach to botanical medicine. His work remains significant, with The English Physitian appearing in colonial America and staying in continuous print for centuries after his death from tuberculosis in 1654.
Fast facts
- Born: 1616, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Died: 10 January 1654, London, United Kingdom
- Education: University of Cambridge
- Primary Works: The English Physitian, Astrological Judgement of Diseases
- Spouse: Alice Field
- Military service: London Trained bands, 1643
- Cause of death: Tuberculosis
- Burial site: New Churchyard, Bethlem
Questions readers ask
Why did Culpeper choose to write in English instead of Latin?
He wanted to provide self-help medical guides to the poor who could not afford the high fees of physicians who communicated exclusively in Latin.
What was Culpeper's connection to the English Civil War?
He fought for the Republican side in the London Trained bands, serving as a surgeon at the First Battle of Newbury in 1643.
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