Sir Thomas Baines, MD, was the intimate and lifelong friend of Sir John Finch, MD, just mentioned, with whose history that of our present physician is inseparably connected. He was born about the year 1622, was educated at Christ college, Cambridge, under Henry More, and took the degree of AB in 1642, AM in 1649, but graduated doctor of medicine at Padua, and was incorporated on that degree at Cambridge in 1660. On the 8th March, 1660, he was chosen professor of music at Gresham college in place of Sir William Petty. He was admitted, in company with Sir John Finch, an Extraordinary Fellow of the College of Physicians on the 1st March, 1660-1. He was one of the original fellows of the Royal Society.

In the capacity of physician he accompanied Sir John in his diplomatic career, first to Tuscany and then to Constantinople, and before he left England received from Charles II the honour of knighthood. Dying at Constantinople on the 5th September, 1680, aged 59, he was buried in that city, whence, however, his remains were removed by Sir John Finch, on his return to England, and finally deposited in the chapel of Christ’s college, Cambridge.

William Munk