Hans Sloane

Hans Sloane

British physician and naturalist.
Date of Birth: 16.04.1660
Country: Great Britain

Content:
  1. Biography of Sir Hans Sloane
  2. Early Life and Medical Study
  3. Contributions and Achievements
  4. Invention of Hot Chocolate
  5. Legacy

Biography of Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet, was a British physician and naturalist known for his medical practice and extensive collections. He was born on April 16, 1660, in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. His father was the head of a Scottish settlement sent there by King James I. When Hans was six years old, his father passed away.

Early Life and Medical Study

In his youth, Hans Sloane developed an interest in natural history and began collecting various specimens. This hobby sparked his fascination with science, and he decided to study medicine, leading him to London. He focused on botany, medicinal substances, and pharmacy. His passion for collecting proved beneficial for naturalist John Ray and scientist Robert Boyle.

After spending four years in London, Hans Sloane embarked on a journey to France, where he stayed in Paris and Montpellier. He also earned his medical degree from the University of Orange in 1683. Upon his return to London, he brought back a large collection of plants and curiosities, which he promptly sent to John Ray, who used them for his work "Historia Plantarum."

Contributions and Achievements

Hans Sloane was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and caught the attention of physician Thomas Sydenham, who shared his valuable experience in medical practice. In 1687, Sloane became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and, in the same year, accompanied the Duke of Albemarle to Jamaica as his physician. However, the Duke passed away shortly after their arrival, and Sloane's visit lasted only 15 months. During this time, he described approximately 800 species of plants, turning the island into a botanical treasure trove. He published a detailed catalog in Latin in 1696 and later produced two folio volumes recounting his impressions of the journey from 1707 to 1725.

In 1693, Sloane became the secretary of the Royal Society and spent 20 years editing their "Philosophical Transactions." He married Elizabeth Langley, a widow, and they had four children, but only two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, survived into adulthood.

Invention of Hot Chocolate

During his stay in Jamaica, Sloane discovered cocoa beans. The indigenous people would grind them into a powder, mix it with water, and consume the resulting beverage. Although he found the taste repulsive, he devised a method to mix it with milk to make it more palatable. He brought this recipe back to England, where the beverage was initially sold in pharmacies as a medicinal product.

Sloane's medical practice in high society was highly lucrative. He served as the personal physician to three consecutive rulers: Queen Anne, George I, and George II. In 1716, Sloane was granted a baronetcy, becoming the first physician to receive a hereditary title. In 1719, he became the president of the Royal College of Physicians, holding the position for 16 years. In 1727, at the age of 80, Sloane succeeded Sir Isaac Newton as the president of the Royal Society.

Legacy

In 1712, Sloane purchased a mansion in Chelsea, near London, where he established the Chelsea Physic Garden. Throughout his life, Sloane amassed an impressive collection of curiosities and antiquities. According to his will, this collection was to be made available to the public. The British Parliament agreed to pay his executor £20,000, a fraction of the collection's value, and in 1759, the collection was opened to the public in the newly formed British Museum in Bloomsbury.

Sir Hans Sloane was laid to rest next to his wife Elizabeth, who had passed away a few years earlier, in the grounds of the old church in Chelsea on January 18, 1753.

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