Thomas Inman

Thomas Inman (27 January 1820 – 3 May 1876) was a house-surgeon to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. In it he elucidated the origins of common symbols, some of them medical. Many of the symbols he discusses are in use today.

Life Born on 27 January 1820 in Rutland Street, Leicester, he was second son of Charles Inman, a partner in Pickfords carrying company, and later director of the Bank of Liverpool; William Inman was his younger brother. Thomas went to school at Wakefield, and in 1836 was apprenticed to his uncle, Richard Inman, M.D., at Preston, Lancashire. He entered King's College, London, where he graduated M.B. in 1842 and M.D. in 1844 at the University of London.

Declining a commission as an army surgeon, Inman settled in Liverpool as house-surgeon to the Royal Infirmary. He obtained a good practice as a physician, and was for many years physician to the Royal Infirmary. Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism exposed and explained, &c., 1869. The Restoration of Health, &c., 1870; 2nd edition, 1872. Ancient Faiths and Modern: a Dissertation upon Worships … before the Christian Era, &c., New York (printed at Edinburgh), 1876.

Family Inman married in 1844 Jennet Leighton, daughter of Daniel Newham of Douglas, Isle of Man, and had six sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters survived him.