John Sheldon

John Sheldon (6 July 1752 – 8 October 1808) was an English surgeon and anatomist.

Career Sheldon was born in London on 6 July 1752, and was apprenticed to Henry Watson, elected in 1766 the first professor of anatomy of the Surgeons' Company. Sheldon studied and taught anatomy at Watson's private museum in Tottenham Court Road, which was later wrecked by a mob. He received his diploma at the Surgeons' Company on 2 November 1775, and then lectured on anatomy at Great Windmill Street school under William Hunter.

Sheldon was surgeon to the General Medical Asylum in Welbeck Street, and on 18 July 1782 he was appointed professor of anatomy to the Royal Academy in succession to Hunter. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 29 April 1784, and on 20 April 1786 he became surgeon to Westminster Hospital, a post he resigned two years later. His pupils included Thomas Beddoes and Joshua Brookes. He hired Charles Brandon Trye as assistant in his private school.

When Sheldon moved away from London, his house in Great Queen Street was taken over with his teaching by James Wilson.

Sheldon died at his cottage on the River Exe on 8 October 1808. Sheldon made a first attempt himself, on 16 August: a tethered balloon caught fire.

Vincent Lunardi made the first ascent in England, on 15 September 1784; and on 25 September Sheldon again tried with his own Montgolfier balloon from Foley House, Portland Place, London. The balloon caught fire, and Sheldon with his companion Keegan were unable to get off the ground. This attempted ascent was then the subject of a caricature by Paul Sandby. It carried scientific instruments, but failed to ascend: Blanchard threw instruments overboard. They landed at Sunbury-on-Thames, and quarrelled, with Blanchard carrying on the flight alone. With John Jeffries, Sheldon then tried to have the Royal Society support more balloon ascents, but without success.

Works Sheldon spent time in studying the lymphatic system, an area on which William Cumberland Cruikshank also was working. He devoted attention to embalming, too. Both interests came from William Hunter's inspiration, and were lifelong. The body was presented by his widow Rebecca (died 1820) to the Royal College of Surgeons.

Sheldon's works were:

The History of the Absorbent System, London, 1784; only the first part was issued, dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks. An Essay on the Fracture of the Patella or Kneepan ... with Observations on the Fracture of the Olecranon, London, 1789; new edition London, 1819.

Sheldon also edited Johann Nathanael Lieberkühn's Quatuor Dissertationes, London, 1782.