Antoine Dubois

Who was Antoine Dubois?

Antoine Dubois was a French surgeon born in Gramat, department of Lot. He was the father of obstetrician Paul Antoine Dubois.

Dubois was appointed a professor of surgery in 1790, and in 1798 took part in the French Campaign of Egypt, serving as chief surgeon. On 22 August 1798 he became a member of the Institut d'Égypte.

In 1802 he became a surgeon in a private hospital that later was to become known as the Maison Dubois. After the death of Pierre Lassus, Dubois was appointed as consultant-surgeon of the Emperor, and in 1810 replaced Jean-Louis Baudelocque as head of maternity services. In 1811 he is chosen by Jean-Nicolas Corvisart to deliver the child of Empress Marie-Louise, and following the birth of Napoleon II, he is given the title of "baron".

In 1820 Dubois was appointed as a clinical professor to the Faculté de Médecine. He was relieved of these duties in 1822, only to have them reinstated several years later. He published little during his career, but is credited with making improvement to a number of surgical instruments, including a forceps.