Thomas Linacre (c.1460–1524) was the first president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). In 1518 he persuaded Henry VIII to sign the college’s founding charter, and established the new institution’s headquarters in his own home in Knightrider Street, near St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Linacre was a medical doctor, a scholar of medicine and theology, and a translator of ancient medical texts. 2024 marks the 500th anniversary of Linacre’s death.

We have created a new trail around the building to find out more about the RCP’s first president.