Sir John Shadwell, M.D., was born in London, in 1670, and was the son of Thomas Shadwell, poet laureate and historiographer in the time of William III. He was educated at All Souls’ college, Oxford, and proceeded A.B. 1st June, 1689; A.M. 26th April, 1693; M.B. 19th April, 1697 ; M.D. 5th June, 1701. In 1699 he attended the earl of Manchester on his embassy extraordinary to Louis XIV, and he continued with that nobleman at Paris till 1701. On the 3rd December of that year he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. He was physician in ordinary to queen Anne, and as such was admitted a Fellow of the College of Physicians 22nd December, 1712. He held the same appointment to George I and George II, the former of whom conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, 12th June, 1715. He resided in Windmill-street, and in 1735 withdrew from practice and retired to France, where he remained for some time, but returned to his former residence in 1740, and died on the 4th January, 1747.

William Munk