Henry Shuckburgh Roots, M.D., was born at Kingston-on-Thames 25th September, 1785, and was the son of Mr. George Roots, a highly respectable medical practitioner of that town. Dr. Roots’ medical education was commenced under his elder brother, William Roots, of Kingston, and was continued at the then United Borough hospitals under the immediate direction of Dr. Haighton, the well-known physiologist and obstetrician, with whom he resided as a house pupil. He completed his medical studies at Edinburgh, but graduated doctor of medicine at St. Andrew’s 2nd November, 1816. He was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 22nd December, 1818, and then commenced practice in London.
About this time, with the view of qualifying himself for the fellowship of the College, he matriculated at Cambridge as a member of Jesus college, and kept his terms there by such occasional short visits, often at considerable intervals, as the then laxer discipline of the university permitted. He proceeded bachelor of medicine at Cambridge in 1824, and doctor of medicine 7th July, 1829, was re-examined by the Censors and admitted a Candidate of the College 30th September, 1830, and a Fellow 30th September, 1831. He was Censor in 1834, Consiliarius 1838, 1842,1843, 1844, 1857, 1858, 1859, and on the 5th January, 1857, was named an Elect, being the last person nominated to that office, the order of Elects being abolished in 1860. Dr. Roots was elected physician to St. Thomas’s hospital in 1828 on the resignation of Dr. Scott, and resigned his office there in 1839. Dr. Roots died in Russell-square 8th March, 1861.
William Munk