The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-14 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE SURGEON-AU.RIST

TO THE LATE QUEEN CHARLOTTE.

Among the throng King Death has levelled of
late, was one well worthy a passing notice, viz.,
Mr. -Wright, of Duke-street, St. James's, Aurist-
Surgeon to Queen Charlotte, &c. ; the ashes of this
venerable Professor having been committed to their
final resting-place the other day at Kensal Green
Cemetery, at the advanced age of 86 years. 'William
Wright was born at Dartford, in Kent, in May,
1773, and commenced his professional practice in
the city of Bristol in 1816 ; and it was here that
Miss Hannah Flatcher was introduced to him,

labouring under the total deprivation of hearing
and speech, but by the means he adopted she was
enabled to both hear and speak ; and, in 1817, had
an interview with her Majesty Queen Charlotte, and
held with her a long conversation, upon which Mr.
Wright was appointed Aurist- Surgeon in ordinary
to her Majesty; and in 1829, he again made the deaf
to hear and the dumb to speak, in the person of Miss
Mary Anne Adams. In 1823 he was consulted
by the Duke of Wellington, and continued in con-
stant attendance on his Grace until his death. He
also attended on their Royal Highnesses the
Duchess of Gloucester, Puke of Cambridge, Duke
of Sussex, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland and
family, Sir Robert Peel, and the elite of the aristo-
cracy. Many now living have to thank him and
his 'advancement in meical science for the great
blessing they enjoy in hearing the sound of the
human voice. Mr. Wright has also been an active
hard-working man, and contributed largely to the
medical literature of his day. In 1817, he pub-
lished "An Essay on the Human Ear ;" in 1820,
" An Address to Persons afflicted with Deafness ;"
in 1822, " Observations on the effects of Mercury ;"
in 1826, "Plain Advice for all classes of Deaf Per-
sons ;" in 1829, "On the Varieties of Deafness ;"
in 1834, " The Present State of Aural Surgery ;"
in 1839, " A Few Minutes' Advice to Deaf Per-
sons;" in 1841, "Hand Book for the Deaf;" in
1843, "Facts relative to the Deaf and Dumb ;" in
1848, "Observations on Electricity and Galvanism ;"
in 1851, " A Letter on Deafness ;" in 1853, " The
Case of F. M. the Duke of Wellington ;" in 1859,
" Fishes and Fishing, or the Passions, Loves, and
Intolloot of Fishos e end, in 1860, his last work,
"Deafness and Diseases of the Ear," in which he
gives the cream of 60 years' experience, and there-
fore a great boon is conferred not only on the medi-
cal profession but to the public in general. This
work he devoted much time and application to,
and only a few days before his death, receiving
the two first copies issued by the publisher, he
observed to an intimate friend, " This book has
killed me." He was also the editor of the serial
entitled the " Aurist ;" was a lecturer for many
years on natural philosophy and chemistry • con-
tributed various papers to the " Lancet," besides the
" Mirror," " Family Herald," &c.
It is to be regretted that, notwithstanding his
great abilities and the number of years he practised,
the high eulogiums which have been bestowed on
him by the medical profession and his patients
generally, that his long illness and other misfor-
tunes has had the effect of reducing his widow and
amiable daughters to straitened circumstances. Mr.
Wright was a member of the Masonic Order, was
of a lively and animated disposition, was an ardent
admirer of his profession, a good husband, a kind
father, and a warm-hearted friend. Let us hope
that his masonic brethren, and the many in the
upper walks of life who are now enjoying the fruits
of his toil and science, will not forget those he has
left as a legacy to his country.