Sir Henry Cooper

Sir Henry Cooper (Avatar)

1807-1891

Vol IV

Pg 127

Sir Henry Cooper

1807-1891

Vol IV

Pg 127

b.1807 d.21 May 1891

MB Lond(1840) MD MRCS LSA FRCP(1860)

Henry Cooper was born at Hull, the son of Samuel Cooper, a merchant engaged in the whaling industry. Through his mother, he was related to Joseph Priestley, the famous chemist. After being educated at private schools, he became the pupil of a local doctor and then entered University College, London, where he qualified in 1830. He spent short periods in Edinburgh and Paris before starting general practice at Hull. In 1840 he graduated as M.B. at London and, after further study at home and abroad, returned to Hull to become physician to the Infirmary. He interested himself in the sanitary condition of the town and was mayor from 1854 to 1855, receiving his knighthood during a visit of Queen Victoria. For six years, he was chairman of the School Board and, when he retired in 1877, the town recognised his public services by the foundation of a Henry Cooper scholarship.

G H Brown

[B.M.J., 1891]