William Blackburne, M.D., was born at Richmond in Yorkshire, and was the son of the Rev. Francis Blackburne, rector of that town, and archdeacon of Cleveland. He was educated at Edinburgh, where he took the degree of doctor of medicine 24th June, 1781 (D.M.I. de Sale). He practised for a short time at Durham, but soon removed to London; and was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 26th June, 1786. He was elected physician to the Westminster hospital in 1791, but resigned that office in 1794. He died at Eastcot-house, near Wells, co. Somerset, on the 9th April, 1835, in the eightieth year of his age. He was buried at Wookey, and in the north aisle of the church there is a mural tablet bearing the following inscription:—

Sacred to the memory of
William Blackburne, M.D.,
who was of an ancient family of Yorkshire,
the last surviving son of Francis Blackburne,
Archdeacon of Cleveland and rector of Richmond, in the county of
York.
He was born in that town on the 25th of October, 1755.
After the successful practice of his profession in London for many years, he retired to this village, in which he dedicated his skill and experience chiefly to the relief of his poorer neighbours; and where he died on the 9th of April, 1835.

William Munk