# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hammick, Stephen Love

​HAMMICK, Sir STEPHEN LOVE (1777–1867), surgeon, born on 28 Feb. 1777, was the eldest son of Stephen Hammick, surgeon and alderman of Plymouth, by Elizabeth Margaret, daughter of John Love, surgeon, of Plymouth Dock (Foster, Baronetage, 1882, p. 287). He commenced his medical studies under his father at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, in 1792, and in the following year was appointed assistant-surgeon there. In 1799 he came to London. After studying for a few months at St. George's Hospital he became a member of the Corporation (now College) of Surgeons on 3 Oct. 1799. He then returned to Plymouth, and was elected full surgeon to the hospital in 1803. Though debarred from taking private patients by the rules of the hospital, he frequently gave gratuitous opinions in difficult cases, and thus made many influential friends, among whom were Lord and Lady Holland. He was surgeon extraordinary to George IV, as prince of Wales, prince regent, and king. In 1829 he removed to Cavendish Square, London, and was soon appointed surgeon extraordinary to the household of William IV (London Medical Directory, 1846, pp. 67-8). His practice as a surgeon in London was never large; but he was general medical adviser to some persons of high station and many naval officers. He was an original member of the senate of the University of London, and was for some years an examiner in surgery there. On 25 July 1834 he was made a baronet, and in 1843 was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.
Hammick published the lectures he had been in the habit of delivering at the Naval Hospital as 'Practical Remarks on ​Amputations, Fractures, and Strictures of the Urethra,' 8vo, London, 1830, a book valuable in its day, and based on very wide experience. While at Plymouth he formed a useful collection of preparations particularly rich in specimens of injuries and diseases of the bones, which he presented to the Royal College of Surgeons. He contributed to Dr. Beddoes's 'West Country Contributions' papers on 'The Practice of Dr. Leach in Low Fever' and 'On the Treatment of Syphilis by Nitrous Acid' in 1799; also papers 'On the Nitrous Acid Controversy,' published in Dr. Beddoes's works, and 'On the Treatment of Compound Dislocations of the Ancle Joint,' printed in Sir Astley Cooper's work.
Hammick died at Plymouth on 15 June 1867 (Gent. Mag. 4th ser. iv. 243-4). On 7 Feb. 1800 he married Frances, only daughter of Peter Turquand, merchant, of London, and by her, who died on 24 Dec. 1829, he had issue two sons and a daughter. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his second son, the Rev. St. Vincent Love Hammick (1806-1888). His eldest son, Stephen Love Hammick, M.D. (1804-1839), one of the Radcliffe travelling fellows of the university of Oxford, died just as he was about to commence practice as a physician in London. He attended E. Mitscherlich's lectures in Berlin during 1834 and 1835, and published a translation of the first portion of the latter's compendium, entitled 'Practical and Experimental Chemistry adapted to Arts and Manufactures,' 12mo, London, 1838.
[Lancet, 22 June 1867; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715-1886, ii. 596; Burke's Peerage, 1890.]
G. G.