Fully aware that the moment he died [John] Hunter would come for his body, [Charles] Byrne had concocted a plan designed to thwart him. As his friends leaned forward to hear his dying words, Byrne made them vow to seal his body in a lead coffin, ship it to the middle of the English Channel and plunge it to the bottom of the sea, far from the reach of even the most resourceful anatomist.
- The Knife Man; Wendy Moore pg.313
Or so Charles Byrne thought!!
Byrne was an Irish giant who had arrived in London in April 1782 to earn a living from showcasing his remarkable height of seven foot eight inches. But in doing so he caught the eye of the most renowned surgeon and anatomist of the time, John Hunter.
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| John Hunter (1728- 1793) painted by Sir Joshua Reynold in 1786. Note the long shin and foot bones in the top right corner! |
John Hunter was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland in and around 13 February 1728, his exact birth date isn't known. Hunter did not enter the world of medicine until he was 21 and it was more likely he did so because of his brother's need for a dissection assistant than a love of medicine. Hunter's older brother, William, built the famous anatomy school in Great Windmill Street, Soho in London and needed a trustworthy assistant to help run the practical classes, prepare human specimens, acquire cadavers etc.
Hunter was naturally skilled in dissection and his interest in medicine and surgery grew. He studied under William Cheselden at Chelsea Hospital and Percival Pott at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, qualifying as an assistant surgeon in the 1750s. On 2 August 1790 to acknowledge Hunter's skill, knowledge and brilliance as a surgeon and anatomist the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland made him an Honorary Fellow.
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| Thank you letter to RCSI from John Hunter on receiving his Honorary Fellowship (RCSI Heritage Collections) |
But what does all this have to do with Charles Byrne?!
Well Hunter was a collector of all things naturally different, odd or curious. In the grounds surrounding his house in Earl's Court he had a menagerie of exotic animals roaming free; zebras, mountain goats, exotic birds, buffaloes etc. The roars and snarls of lions, leopards and jackals could be heard by Hunter's neighbours. It is believed that the fictional character Doctor Dolittle was based on Hunter and his house of animals.
If adventurers arrived back from their travels around the British Empire with any exotic specimens they brought them to Hunter. By gathering these specimens, adding the skeletons of his own dead animals plus the human specimens he had prepared himself, Hunter built up quite the museum. So when Hunter heard of and saw the medical curiosity that was Charles Byrne the Irish Giant, he wanted to make Byrne part of his museum!
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| Illustration of Hunter's fabulous museum |
Byrne's friends did try their best to carry out his wishes and they believed they had done so successfully. But they underestimated Hunter's desire for all things curious. As the friends accompanied Byrne's coffin on its journey to the coast they stopped in various ale houses to have a libation in honour of their dear friend. Having one too many they didn't notice some of Hunter's men unscrew the coffin lid, remove Byrne's body and replace him with paving stones. The body was whisked back to London and a waiting Hunter.
Hunter never fully admitted in public to stealing Byrne's body as he was afraid of the wrath of Byrne's friends. But Hunter did let Sir Joshua Reynolds paint a hint of the giant's presence among his museum treasures when Reynolds painted a portrait of Hunter in 1786 (seen above). Note the long shin bones and feet in the top right corner!
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| The Hunterian Museum, Royal College of Surgeons in London |
John Hunter's specimens (including Charles Byrne the Irish Giant) can still be seen today beautifully housed in the Royal College of Surgeons in London, in the aptly named the Hunterian Museum.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy