Robert Brudenell Carter

Robert Brudenell Carter, FRCS (2 October 1828 – 23 October 1918) was a British physician and ophthalmic surgeon.

Early life Born in Little Wittenham, near Didcot, Berkshire, Carter was the son of a major in the Royal Marines and his mother died in giving birth to him. Soon after he moved to Putney in south London, and published his second book, On the Influence of Education and Training in Preventing Diseases of the Nervous System in 1855.

Before his second book had been published he had left for the Crimea, where he served as a staff surgeon in the British Army. From this date Carter devoted his medical career entirely to ophthalmology. In 1864 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and in 1868 moved to London and joined the staff of the Royal South London Ophthalmic Hospital in Southwark.

From 1887 to 1900 Carter was a member of the General Medical Council and also served as president of the Royal Medical Society. There were six candidates for the two seats to be filled, and Carter secured second place and election with 883 votes, 29 more than the third-placed candidate. Carter aligned himself with the Moderate Party on the council, which was allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party. When the next county council elections were held three years later, he failed to hold his seat, finishing last of four candidates.

Carter was a Knight of Grace of the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, and was promoted to a Knight of Justice (KStJ) in the same order on 8 May 1902.

Carter died at his home near Clapham Common in 1918, aged 90, and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery.

Works On the Influence of Education and Training in Preventing Diseases of the Nervous System (1855) A Practical Treatise on Diseases of the Eye (1875) Eyesight, Good & Bad: A Treatise on the Exercise and Preservation of Vision (1880) Our Homes, and how to Make Them Healthy (1883) Doctors and Their Work, Or, Medicine, Quackery, and Disease (1903)