Sir Richard Croft, 6th Baronet (9 January 1762 – 13 February 1818) was an English physician and obstetrician who became infamous due to his role in the "triple obstetrical tragedy" of 1817, which involved the deaths of Princess Charlotte of Wales, Princess Charlotte's child, and Croft himself.
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Early life and family
Croft was born on 9 January 1762 at Dunster Park, Berkshire, the son of Herbert Croft and Elizabeth Young. He married on 3 November 1789 Margaret Denman, daughter of Dr Thomas Denman and Elizabeth Brodie and sister of Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman, who became Lord Chief Justice of England.
They had four children: Thomas Elmsley Croft, who succeeded his father as 7th Baronet; Archer Denman Croft, who succeeded his brother as 8th Baronet; Frances Elizabeth Croft; and the Reverend Richard Croft, rector of Hillingdon, Middlesex. Croft's great-grandson through his third son was Henry Page Croft, 1st Baron Croft.
Education
Croft began his medical training under Dr Rupert Chawner, an apothecary/surgeon residing at Burton-upon-Trent. After he completed his training under Dr Chawner, his parents sent him to London to complete his medical education. He became a pupil of Dr John Hunter; and by recommendation of Dr Matthew Baillie, (a fellow pupil of Croft's and nephew of Dr Hunter) he boarded and lodged with Dr Denman. Croft was also trained by his father-in-law, Dr Thomas Denman, a preeminent obstetrician in London at the turn of the nineteenth century, whose textbook on childbirth had been first published in 1788. He graduated with his MD from the University of Oxford in 1789. He held the office of Physician to King George III.