Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Misaubin, John

551758Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 38 — Misaubin, John1894Norman Moore

MISAUBIN, JOHN, M.D. (d. 1734), was born in France, and graduated M.D. at the university of Cahors on 7 July 1687. He settled in London, and became a licentiate of the College of Physicians on 25 June 1719. His foreign manner and accent sometimes excited ridicule, and though he was a regular licentiate his arrogance and method of practice caused him to be described and caricatured as a quack. In one print of the time he is represented as saying 'Prenez des pilules, prenez des pilules,' and Fielding relates (Tom Jones, bk. xiii. chap, ii.) that he 'used to say that the proper direction to him was to Dr. Misaubin "in the world," intimating that there were few people in it to whom his great reputation was not known.' He has left no writings, and his chief claim to recollection is that he is one of the four medical practitioners mentioned in 'Tom Jones,' the others being Dr. Sydenham [q. v.] and the surgeons John Freke [q. v.] and John Ranby [q. v.] He lived near Covent Garden, and died on 20 April 1734.

[Munk's Coll. of Phys. ii. 67; Fielding's Tom Jones, ed. 1749, v. 8; William Wadd's Nugæ Chirurgicæ, London, 1824.]

N. M.