Messenger Monsey

Messenger Monsey (October 1694 – 26 December 1788) was an English physician and humorist. He became physician to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, a home for injured and elderly soldiers. Known for his eccentricity and ill manners, he is described in the diaries of Fanny Burney as "Dr. Monso, a strange gross man".

Early life Monsey, son of Robert Monsey, a non-juror cleric, and Mary (daughter of Roger Clopton, rector of Downham), was born at Hackford with Whitwell, Norfolk, and educated at home, then at Woodbridge School and Pembroke College, Cambridge (BA, 1714), before studying medicine under Sir Benjamin Wrench MD of Norwich (died 1747). Monsey was admitted to the Royal College of Physicians in 1723. He then practised in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where he never earned more than £300 a year, but married well.

Move to London Monsey was lucky enough to be called to treat Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, who was taken ill with apoplexy on the way to Newmarket.

Legacy Anecdotes about Monsey's eccentricities and unseemly language were collected after his death. He held his appointment to Chelsea Hospital, also obtained through Godolphin, until his death there on 26 December 1788 aged 94, after which he was dissected in a post mortem examination before students of Guy's Hospital, as he had requested. On his death Monsey left £16,000 to his only daughter Charlotte, who had married William Alexander, brother to James Alexander, 1st Earl of Caledon.