Gentlemen Rascals: Surgical Practice and the Rise of the Middle Class in Eighteenth-Century England
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
History
Minor
Information Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Kathy Callahan, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
This presentation explores the ways in which the rise of the surgical profession in eighteenth-century England reflected both the sentiments and growth of the middle class. It will argue that the transition of the surgeon from tradesman to medical professional represented the calculated social mobility of the broader middle class. The primary source base consists of the letters, lecture notes, and other writings by surgeons, such as John Hunter, William Hey, and Charles Bell, along with ephemera, paintings, newspaper articles, and other published writings to corroborate the surgeons’ sentiments and reflect public opinion. These sources are evaluated through the lens of scientific language, surgeons’ desired gentleman status, and the new pedagogical framework for the profession.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
History Department Symposium
Gentlemen Rascals: Surgical Practice and the Rise of the Middle Class in Eighteenth-Century England
This presentation explores the ways in which the rise of the surgical profession in eighteenth-century England reflected both the sentiments and growth of the middle class. It will argue that the transition of the surgeon from tradesman to medical professional represented the calculated social mobility of the broader middle class. The primary source base consists of the letters, lecture notes, and other writings by surgeons, such as John Hunter, William Hey, and Charles Bell, along with ephemera, paintings, newspaper articles, and other published writings to corroborate the surgeons’ sentiments and reflect public opinion. These sources are evaluated through the lens of scientific language, surgeons’ desired gentleman status, and the new pedagogical framework for the profession.