Richard Huck-Saunders

Richard Huck-Saunders ( Huck; 1720–1785) was an English physician.

Early life He was born in Westmoreland in 1720 to parents were named Huck, and educated at the grammar school of Croughland, Cumberland. After a five years' apprenticeship with a surgeon at Penrith named Neal, he entered as a student at St Thomas's Hospital, London.

In 1745, Huck entered the army, and was appointed surgeon to the 25th Regiment of Foot, the regiment of Hugh Sempill, 12th Lord Sempill. and served until the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle of 1748 ended the War of Austrian Succession. Following the successful Siege of Havana, in 1762, Huck returned to England. At this period he corresponded with Sir John Pringle, who later commented on Huck's treatment of fever, preliminary to administration of Chinchona bark, as recorded by Donald Monro. Along with Pringle and other physicians, Huck recommended bleeding for dysentery.

Later life Huck settled in Spring Gardens, London, as a physician, and was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians of London on 1 April 1765.

In London Huck associated with Thomas Denman and Benjamin Rush. John Morgan was a friend. He knew Benjamin Franklin, who mentioned him in a 1773 letter to Jan Ingenhousz. In 1767 he was one of the reforming group in the College of Physicians, of which he could not become a Fellow since he held no Oxbridge degree. With others including John Fothergill they founded a schismatic Society of Collegiate Physicians.

Huck was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1768; and of the College of Surgeons, de speciali gratia (by grace or favour), in 1784.

Anne, who married in 1796 Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville Jane, who married in 1800 John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland.