John Bathurst, MD, was born in Sussex, and was the second son of Dr John Bathurst, of Goudhurst, co Kent, by his wife, Dorothy, daughter of Edward Maplesden, of Marsden, a captain in the navy. He was admitted a sizar of Pembroke college, Cambridge, in December, 1614, and proceeded AB 1617-8, AM 1621, and MD 1637. He was admitted Candidate and Fellow of the College of Physicians on the same day, viz., 22nd December, 1637. Dr Bathurst was Censor in 1641 and 1650, was named Elect 9th July, 1657, in place of the immortal Harvey, and died, according to Hamey, 26th April, 1659, aged 52.(1)

Wood tells us he was incorporated master of arts at Oxford, 1st February, 1642-3; that he was elected a burgess for Richmond, in Yorkshire, to serve in the Parliament called by Oliver Cromwell in 1656, and also for that called by Richard Cromwell in 1658. Dr Bathurst was physician to the Protector, and also to the Fanshawe family; and it was on the strength of his medical certificate that Cromwell, over-ruling Sir Harry Vane's objections, obtained at the council chamber the order for Sir Richard Fanshawe's liberation from his imprisonment at Whitehall. Dr Bathurst married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Brian Willance, Esq., of Clint, Yorkshire, and had by her a numerous family, the eldest of whom was Christopher Bathurst, MD.

William Munk

[(1) Joannes Bathurst medicus prudens doctusque defecit 26 Aprilis 1659, annos natus quinquaginta duos et par coætaneorum celeberrimis in arte nostra ritè exercenda. Bustorum aliquot Reliquiæ auth. Bald: Hamey.]