Abstract
This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of The Lancet which over the years has become the most influential medical journal of all time. It was the creation of Thomas Wakley (1795–1862) whose relentless commitment to medical and social reform influenced both attitude and outcome throughout his lifetime and beyond. It is therefore not surprising that the name of Wakley continues to be found in many subsequent history of medicine texts which rightly acknowledge the influence of both the man and his journal in ways which few other publications have been unable to match.
Despite such achievements, the first complete biography of Thomas Wakely did not appear until 1897, when Samuel Squire Sprigge (1860–1937). wrote ‘The Life and Times of Thomas Wakley, Founder and First Editor of The Lancet”. 1 Since its publication, it is interesting that there have been relatively few modern biographies of Wakley which is unfortunate as there are many aspects of earlier works which require revision. Samuel Squire Sprigge's account is now accessible online and while there is a pervading sense of loyalty, he was nevertheless an ideal choice for the time to write what was always going to be a challenging biography.
It is unfortunate that Samuel Squire Sprigge has tended to fall from favour by those interested in 19th century medical history. His life and works deserve a greater level of interest, the main exception to this absence being a fascinating paper by W.F Bynum, 2 who explores the extent to which Squire Sprigge played a significant role in discussions regarding the developing professionalism of medicine.
Squire Sprigge initially chose to study medicine, and it is likely that he was certainly influenced by his father who was a country doctor in Norfolk. However, despite his early successes and the likelihood of an influential London-based medical career, he increasingly questioned the idea of a life devoted to medical practice. Instead, he was drawn towards developing his considerable literary abilities seen in numerous articles written for periodicals and found support and friendship amongst the aesthetic literary movement, which resulted in lasting friendships with men such as Rudyard Kipling and the historian Sir Walter Besant. In 1892 he accepted an invitation to join the editorial staff of The Lancet aware that it provided him with the ideal opportunity to successfully combine his literary interests and medical knowledge, and in 1909 he became Editor following the death of Thomas Wakley's grandson and thereby ending the influence of the family dynasty.
As early as 1895 Squire Sprigge had begun a serialised biography of Wakley to mark the centenary of its founder's birth. Yet it was soon noted by both the family and Squire Sprigge that this was not particularly successful and so approval was given for a separate biography to be written, which was published in 1897. His knowledge of Wakley through the family and his ongoing association with the journal was in many ways an ideal position for any biographer though there were issues which were noted by both son Thomas H Wakley and grandson Thomas Wakley, who commented in the Prefatory Note to the first edition that such a work could not be accomplished by a family member due to the influence of family affection nor should the biography have come any earlier on the grounds that it was likely to have caused too much pain to many people. 3 Such was the complexity of the life and times of Thomas Wakley.
In addition to his work at The Lancet and a growing reputation as a medical writer and author, Squire Sprigge also became increasingly interested in the relationship between the publisher and the author. This led to a long-lasting affiliation with the Society of Authors, first as Secretary then as President, a post he accepted in 1911. The Society had been established in 1884 with the aim of protecting the rights and interests of authors with Alfred Lord Tennyson as its first President. In 1890 Squire Sprigge discussed in detail the relationship with publishers in “Methods of publishing: the cost of production”, 4 which was written on behalf of the Society of Authors, but intended as general guidance for all those considering submission of a manuscript outlining the many issues which should be taken into consideration, and it remains a fascinating account.
In later work, Squire Sprigge tended to return to professional issues such as medical education, though these retained a strong theme of accountability. In 1905 his previously anonymous articles were accepted as his thesis for the Cambridge MD and was later published to wide acclaim as “Medicine and the Public”. 5 Squire Sprigge continued to explore the relationship medicine had with the wider world as seen in works such as “Physic and Fiction”. 6 It is perhaps relevant for readers of this journal that in this particular work he raised the concern that those writing biography were unconsciously swayed by fiction particularly in terms of the readiness to account for failure in ways which were presented as acceptable as opposed to the need for a more honest approach. It is a problem which I would suggest still remains for those of us writing biography and would benefit from ongoing consideration.