John Braxton Hicks

John Braxton Hicks (23 February 1823 – 28 August 1897) was a 19th-century English medical doctor who specialised in obstetrics.

Early life and education He was born to banker Edward Hicks (b. 1785 - d. 1861) in Rye, Sussex. He was educated privately and in 1841 entered Guy's Hospital Medical School. He obtained his MB at the University of London in 1845 and an MD in 1851. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1866.

Career In 1856 Hicks was appointed assistant obstetric physician at Guy's Hospital and full physician in 1868. In 1888 he became obstetric physician at St Mary's Hospital, London. Hicks was the first physician to describe the bipolar and other methods of the version of a fetus. In 1872, he described the uterine contractions not resulting in childbirth now known as Braxton Hicks contractions.

In 1862 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society by virtue of his interest in Natural History, about which he wrote numerous papers. He gave the Hunterian Oration to the Hunterian Society in 1868 and was elected their president for 1879.

Personal life Hicks fathered coroner Athelstan Braxton Hicks (b. 1854 - d. 1902).

Death Hicks died at Barratt Homes of The Brackens, Brackley, West Northamptonshire, England on 28 August 1897 at age 74 and is buried at St Thomas Church, Winchester, Hampshire. In his honour, an obstetric ward at St Thomas' Hospital was named after him (now currently closed).