# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hooper, Robert

​HOOPER, ROBERT (1773–1835), medical writer, son of John Hooper of Marylebone, was born in London in 1773, and after a course of medical study in London was appointed apothecary to the Marylebone workhouse infirmary. He entered at Pembroke College, Oxford, on 24 Oct. 1796, graduated ​B.A. in 1803, M.A. and M.B. in 1804. Some difficulty (instigated, it is said, by members of the College of Physicians) prevented his proceeding to M.D. at Oxford, but he was created M.D. of St. Andrews on 16 Dec. 1805, and admitted licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians on 23 Dec. 1805. Settling in Savile Row, he lectured there on the practice of medicine for many years to large classes. He made a special study of pathology, and formed a large collection of illustrative specimens. While carrying on an extensive practice, he was a most industrious writer, and his books had a large sale. Revised editions of several of them continue in sale. He retired from practice in 1829, having made a fortune, and lived at Stanmore. He died in Bentinck Street, Manchester Square, on 6 May 1835, in his sixty-third year.
Hooper wrote: 1. ‘Observations on the Structure and Economy of Plants; to which is added the Analogy between the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms,’ Oxford, 1797, 8vo. 2. ‘The Hygrology; or Chemico-Physiological Doctrine of the Fluids of the Human Body. From the Latin of J. J. Plenck,’ London, 1797, 8vo. 3. ‘A Compendious Medical Dictionary, containing an Explanation of the Terms in Anatomy, Physiology, Surgery,’ &c., London, 1798, 12mo; 6th edit., 1831; numerous American editions were issued. The edition of 1811 was issued as a new edition of John Quincy's ‘Lexicon Medicum,’ a work of long-standing repute which had gone through thirteen editions, and had been largely copied by Hooper. Subsequent editions bore the title ‘Lexicon Medicum, or Medical Dictionary,’ without reference to Quincy. 4. ‘The Anatomist's Vade Mecum, containing the Anatomy, Physiology, and Morbid Appearances of the Human Body,’ London, 1798, 12mo; 4th edit., 1802; American editions, Boston, 1801, 1803. 5. ‘Anatomical Plates of the Bones and Muscles, reduced from Albinus, for the use of Students and Artists,’ London, 1802, 12mo; 3rd edit., 1807. 6. ‘Observations on the Epidemical Diseases now prevailing in London,’ London, 1803. 7. ‘The London Dissector,’ London, 1804, 8vo. 8. ‘Examinations in Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacy,’ London, 1807, 12mo; 4th edit., 1820. 9. ‘The Physician's Vade Mecum, containing the Symptoms, Causes, Prognosis, and Treatment of Diseases,’ London, 1809, 12mo; enlarged edition, 1833; many American editions. 10. ‘Anatomical Plates of the Thoracic and Abdominal Viscera,’ 3rd edit., 1809. 11. ‘The Morbid Anatomy of the Human Brain, being Illustrations of the most frequent and important Organic Diseases to which that viscus is subject,’ London, 1826, 4to. 12. ‘The Morbid Anatomy of the Human Uterus and its Appendages, with Illustrations of the most frequent and important Organic Diseases to which those Viscera are subject,’ London, 1832, 4to.
[Munk's Coll. of Phys. iii. 29; Lancet, 11 July 1835, pp. 493–4.]
G. T. B.