Richard Mead (1673-1754) Successor to John Radcliffe

Richard Mead received from Radcliffe the gold-headed cane, a symbol of excellence in 17th and 18th century London medicine. However, the two recipients possessed quite opposite personalities.¹ Mead was born the 11th child of a nonconformist minister of Stepney, Middlesex, whose private means were large enough to provide excellent tutorial education for his children. Having acquired facility in languages and a classical education, Richard followed his father into voluntary exile in Holland. He spent three years at Utrecht, extending his knowledge of classical literature and antiquities. At the age of 19 he entered Leyden as a student of medicine. Archibald Pitcairn, then a member of the faculty, supported the iatromechanical school and taught the practice of physic, whereas Boerhaave, who later became Leyden's most renowned physician, was a young graduate. Mead traveled in various parts of Europe and graduated MD from Padua in 1695. Although lacking a license from