**Biographical Information**
– George Cheyne, a Newtonian physician and Behmenist, was born in 1672 in Methlick, Scotland, and died in Bath in 1743.
– He attended the University of Edinburgh and the University of Aberdeen for medicine, potentially spending time in Leiden during his studies.
– Cheyne started his medical practice in London in 1701, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1702.
– He settled permanently in Bath in 1718, where he worked in the summer and practiced in London during the winter.
– Cheyne was known for his contributions to the neurological school of psychiatry and underwent a significant weight loss of almost 10 stone after an illness.
**Family and Personal Life**
– Cheyne married Margaret Middleton around 1712 and had three surviving children: Francis, Peggy (Margaret), and John, who later became a vicar in Northamptonshire.
**Philosophical and Medical Views**
– Cheyne emphasized the importance of exercise for his patients, recommending various indoor and outdoor activities.
– He advocated for reducing meat intake around age 50 to achieve a green old age and avoid health issues.
– Cheyne adopted a vegetarian diet consisting of milk and vegetables to combat obesity and improve health, promoting lacto-vegetarianism.
**Literary Works and Influence**
– Cheyne authored books on medicine, natural philosophy, religion, metaphysics, astronomy, and mathematics, which were translated into multiple languages.
– Notable works include ‘The Philosophical Principles of Religion Natural and Revealed,’ ‘The English Malady,’ ‘Essay of Health and Long Life,’ and ‘The Natural Method of Curing the Diseases of the Body.’
– His works influenced fields such as Newtonian physiology, obesity, depression, and mental health history.
**Academic References and External Links**
– George Cheyne’s works are referenced in various academic publications, including works by Anita Guerrini, Roy Porter, and G.D. Henderson.
– External links provide additional resources on Cheyne’s philosophies, vegetarianism, and his role in the Enlightenment era, including Wikiquote and the ‘New International Encyclopedia’ entry.
– Mention of Cheyne’s connections to mysticism, Behmenism, millenarianism, and his views on health and natural cures.
George Cheyne, M.D. R.C. E.d. R.S.S. (1672–1743), was a pioneering physician, early proto-psychiatrist, philosopher and mathematician.
George Cheyne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1672 |
| Died | 1743 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | physician |
| Known for | vegetarianism |