Thomas Monro, M.D., was the youngest son of John Monro, M.D., a fellow of the College, and was born in London in 1759. He was educated under Dr. Parr, at Stanmore, on leaving which he was sent to Oriel college, Oxford, and as a member of that house proceeded A.B. 4th December, 1780; A.M. 15th July, 1783; M.B. 24th January, 1785; M.D. 24th May, 1787. He was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 29th March, 1790; and a Fellow 18th April, 1791. He was Censor in 1792, 1799, 1812; Harveian Orator in 1799; and was named an Elect 28th November, 1811.
Dr. Monro was appointed assistant physician to Bethlem hospital 19th July, 1787; and physician, 2nd February, 1792, an office which he continued to hold until June, 1816, when he was succeeded by his son Dr. Edward Thomas Monro. He died 14th May, 1833, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, and was buried at Bushey, having many years previously retired from the practice of his profession.(1) Dr. Monro was a lover, and towards the close of his life, a great patron, of the fine arts. His judgment was accurate, his taste correct ; he was one of the first to recognise the talents of the celebrated painter Turner, to whom he proved a warm and constant friend. That great artist was a frequent visitor at Dr. Monro’s house at Bushey, and the doctor possessed a large collection of the early works of his protégé. A portrait of Dr. Monro, in chalk, has been recently presented to the College by his grandson Dr. Henry Monro.
William Munk
[(1) Licetne filio patris memoriam dilectissimi proferre? Anne obstet virtutum recensioni quod ex linguâ profluat nepotum genitoris commendatio. Vereor certe ne tam cari capitis nimium accendantur laudes, ne mihi nec opinanti quidem, nedum de industriâ, amor, affectus, desiderium justæ quicquid veritatis fines transeat, ne luctus sibi præteritas ævi felicioris imagines repetens, in meros abeat questus, nec veram intimi cordis effigiem exprimat. Recordamini tamen, quæso, quorum casus misereamur ipsos intueri licet et nosse familiariter, ut ab imo pectore quæ dicta sunt haud dubiè proficiscantur, nec minus amicus vester, quòd pater esset meus. A me præsertim desideratum semperque desiderandum nomen, vobis, uti credo, non indignum, quòd in memoriâ teneatur, sed cupio, ut satis dicam, nec nimis, pium quæ unicè deceant filium, parentem quæ non dedeceant honoratissimum. Ecquis autem majori simplicitatis aut honestatis laude societatem hanc unquam exornavit? In arte suâ candidus et apertus veritati unicè consuluit, non ornamentis. Studiorum, quæ naturæ imitatione multiplici allectant hominum animos et mores emolliunt, amantissimus. Tabularum etiam signorumque pulchritudine, atque omni antiquitatis elegantiâ exercitatissimus, eorumque omnium quæ pictoris ingenium calliditate graphicâ depinxit mîrâve colorum varietate decoravit, opifex ipse vaferrimus si quis alius, ut inter eos quibuscum inclaruit paucissimos certe pares inveniatis. In totâ vitæ consuetudine gravitas, sinceritas. Judicium sanum, verum et ab omni affectatione alienum. Nihil unquam in vitâ illiberale, nihil in praxi sordidum, nihil subdolum aut facere potuit aut pati. Quis intimos illos nexus cognovit melius quibus ad parentes, ad amicos, conjugem, liberos obstricti sumus? Quis vitæ inter ruris delicias actæ (quantum inter negotia licuerit) pertentavit acrius? Has avidè haurire solitus et ubi jam consenuerit inter senectutis solamina vitæque decedentis gaudia judicavit. Quinetiam affectus hosec moresque blandos, ut qui se ab ineunte ætate mitioribus studiis, dediderit usque ad extremum vitæ retinuit quò plures gravioresque nobis causas relinqueret et desiderii et doloris. Sic "Genitorem omnis curæ casusque levamen amitto." Oratio Harveiana, habita sext. Kal. Jul. an. MDCCCXXXIV, ab Edvardo Tho. Monro, M.D., pp. 17 and et seq]