Sir Philip Crampon, Surgeon, Is Born in Dublin

Sir Philip Crampton, 1st Baronet, FRS (7 June 1777 – 10 June 1858) was an eminent Irish surgeon and anatomist. He was President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in 1811, 1820, 1844 and 1855.

Crampton was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of John Crampton and Anne Verner.

He was a childhood friend of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the United Irishman, and a cousin, on his mother’s side, of Thomas Verner, Grand Master of the Orange Order.

He was indentured to Solomon Richards and soon after commenced studies at the RCSI School. He joined the army as an assistant surgeon. When he was appointed surgeon to the Meath Hospital in 1798 he was not yet fully qualified, and went on to graduate MD in Glasgow University in 1800 and by 1801 he was a Member of RCSI. He was to remain in the Meath Hospital for nearly sixty years.

A few years later he also became assistant surgeon at the Lock Hospital, Dublin and also built up a large private practice at his house in Dawson St. He joined Peter Harkan in teaching anatomy in private lectures, forming the first private school of anatomy and surgery in the city.