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.
William Back., M.D., was born in Surrey. He commenced his medical education at Guy’s hospital and completed it at Edinburgh, where he graduated doctor of medicine 24th June, 1808 (D.M.I. de Dysenteria). He was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 22nd December, 1814, and on the 17th March, 1819, was elected physician to Guy’s hospital. He retained that office until 1840, when he retired in great measure from medical practice. Dr. Back died at Clapham park 6th November, 1856, aged seventy-four.
William Munk
