Thomas Monro

Thomas Monro (1759–1833) was a British art collector and patron. He was Principal Physician of the Bethlem Royal Hospital and one-time consulting physician to George III. Physician Thomas Monro was born 1759, in London, youngest son of Dr John Monro (9th of Fyrish) and Elizabeth Culling Smith. He was educated at Harrow under Samuel Parr and attended Oriel College, Oxford where he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1787. Admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1791, and acted as Censor on three separate occasions. He delivered the Harveian Oration in 1799. In 1811, he was named as an Elect of the College. Like his father and grandfather he was employed at Bedlam starting as Assistant Physician in 1787. He attended on George III in a joint consultation of specialists during the king's second illness in 1811–12, although Queen Charlotte ensured that his further involvement did not extend beyond that of a passive observer. In 1792 he became Principal Physician as successor to his father. He resigned in June 1816, as a result of scandal when he was accused of ‘wanting in humanity’ towards his patients.