On 29 June 1888, Frederick Treves performed the first appendicectomy in England. A practitioner of anatomy and abdominal surgery, he rose from a general medical practice in Wirksworth to become an essential figure in late 19th-century British medicine. His career spanned service on the battlefield, royal medical attendance, and an extensive output of clinical and travel literature.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1853 in Dorchester, Treves was the son of an upholsterer. His education included time under the poet William Barnes before he attended the Merchant Taylors' School and the London Hospital Medical College. He gained membership in the Royal College of Surgeons in 1875 and became a fellow in 1878. After a period as a general practitioner in Derbyshire, he returned to London to focus on surgical practice.
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Treves became an authority on abdominal surgery at the London Hospital. In 1884, he encountered Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, and arranged for his care within the hospital until Merrick died in 1890. Treves also served in the Second Boer War, managing a field hospital in South Africa, and later documented these experiences in The Tale of a Field Hospital. His administrative roles included serving as the chairman of the British Red Cross Executive Committee and as Rector of the University of Aberdeen.
Royal Surgeon
In 1900, Treves was named Surgeon Extraordinary to Queen Victoria. When King Edward VII required urgent care in 1902, Treves successfully performed a procedure to drain a perityphlitis abscess at Buckingham Palace, allowing the King to survive despite his initial reluctance to undergo surgery. Following this event, Treves was created a baronet and continued serving the royal household until 1910.
Literary Pursuits and Final Years
A prolific writer, Treves published works ranging from medical textbooks like Surgically Applied Anatomy to travelogues such as The Cradle of the Deep. He retired to Switzerland, dying in Lausanne in 1923 at age 70 from peritonitis. He was buried in his native Dorchester, with Thomas Hardy among those attending the service.
Fast facts
- Born: 1853, Dorchester
- Died: 1923, Lausanne
- First appendicectomy in England: 29 June 1888
- Medical Education: Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Rector of the University of Aberdeen: 1905-1908
- Royal Appointments: Surgeon Extraordinary to Queen Victoria; Serjeant Surgeon to King Edward VII
- Honours: Companion of the Order of the Bath; Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Questions readers ask
Did Frederick Treves correctly identify Joseph Merrick?
No, Treves mistakenly referred to him as John Merrick in his later accounts.
What medical condition caused his death?
Treves died of peritonitis, a complication resulting from a ruptured appendix.
Achievements
- Companion of the Order of the Bath
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Knight of Grace of the Order of Saint John
- Fields: surgery
