John Blackall

Who was John Blackall?

John Blackall M.D., FRCP was a physician.

John Blackall was the sixth son of the Reverend Theophilus Blackall, a prebendary of Exeter Cathedral, by his wife Elizabeth Ley, and grandson of Bishop Ofspring Blackall, was born in St. Paul's Street, Exeter on 24 December 1771. He was educated at Exeter grammar school, and then studied at Balliol College, Oxford, as a member of which he graduated B.A. in 1793, M.A. in 1796, M.B. in 1797, and M.D. on 2 March 1801.

Immediately after taking his first degree he applied himself to the study of medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and it was in its wards, while working as the clinical clerk of Dr. John Latham, that he made the observations on albuminuria which were afterwards stated and enlarged in his treatise on dropsies. In 1797 he settled in his native city, and on 1 June in that year was chosen physician to the Devon and Exeter Hospital. At this period, however, the medical practice of Exeter was engrossed by Dr. Hugh Downman, Dr. Bartholomew Parr, and Dr. George Daniell, and in 1801 Dr. Blackall resigned his appointment at Exeter, and settled at Totnes, where he became the physician of the district.