Sir George Smith Gibbes, M.D., wasborn in 1771, and was the son of the Rev. George Gibbes, D.D., rector of Woodborough, co. Wilts. He received his scholastic education at Southampton, under the Rev. Dr. Mant, father of the well-known bishop of that name. When sixteen years of age he was entered a commoner of Exeter college, Oxford, and as a member of that house graduated A.B. 17th February, 1792. Elected to a fellowship at Magdalen college he removed thither, and proceeded A.M. 21st May, 1795; M.B. 6th April, 1796; M.D. 11th April, 1799. He was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 25th June, 1803, a Fellow 25th June, 1804, and was Harveian orator in 1817.
He settled at Bath, where he practised with distinguished reputation and success for a long series of years. In 1804 he was elected physician to the Bath General hospital; in 1819 was appointed physician extraordinary to queen Charlotte, and in 1820 received the honour of knighthood. He was in the commission of the peace for the county of Somerset. About 1835 Sir George Gibbes retired from the active exercise of his profession and removed to Cheltenham, whence he withdrew to Sidmouth, and died there on the 23rd June, 1851, aged 80.
He was buried in the family vault at Woodborough, and is commemorated by a mural tablet in the church of All Saints, Sidmouth, of which his son the Rev. Heneage Gibbes(1) is the present incumbent. Sir George was a fellow of the Royal and of several other scientific and literary societies, foreign and domestic, and contributed several papers to their transactions.
He was the author of—
Observations on the Component parts of Animal Matters, and on their Conversion into a substance resembling Spermaceti. 8vo. —1796.
A Treatise on the Bath Waters. 8vo. Bath, 1800.
Outlines of a New Theory of Medicine. 8vo. Bath, 1815.
William Munk
[(1) This exemplary clergyman was bred to physic, proceeded M.B. at Cambridge in 1826, as a member of Downing college, and was admitted an Inceptor-Candidate of the College of Physicians 25th June, 1830. Devoting himself to the church, he received ordination, and in 1841 withdrew his name from the College list.]