This biography is part of a series of historical obituaries, originally published in print. As products of their time
periods, some biographies contain language which is inappropriate and offensive and present biased accounts of physicians’ lives and work that do
not disclose unethical and discriminatory behaviour. As an establishment organisation, the RCP, its members, and the way they are written about,
have often reflected societal power structures that favour dominant groups. We aim to redress these biases through
ongoing work.
Below is the biography as originally published in 1878.
Robert Bankes, M.D., was born in London, and educated at Eton, whence he was elected, in 1720, to King’s college, Cambridge, of which society he was a fellow. He proceeded A.B. 1724; A.M. 1728; M.D. 1735; and the same year was appointed professor of anatomy in the university. He was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 25th June, 1736; and a Fellow 25th June, 1737; was Gulstonian lecturer in 1738; Censor in 1739; and Harveian orator in 1743. Dr. Bankes was chosen physician to Christ’s hospital in April, 1737, and died in November, 1746.
William Munk
