ABSTRACT
Thomas Wakley gained a solid education at Chard in Somersetshire, and Honiton in Devonshire, which were some of the best grammar schools in the area. Wakley went on to gain two further apprenticeships: one with Mr Phelps who was his brother-in-law, the other with Mr Luke Coulson who belonged to a well-known medical family at Henley-on-Thames. Wakley, who had spent his youth surrounded by people of integrity, felt the injustice and unfairness of such an education keenly. William Cobbett quickly became a source of inspiration for Wakley as someone who shared his tenacious sense of justice and morality. Wakley, the founding editor, had two objectives with his new paper: firstly the spread of knowledge and medical information amongst the medical profession; secondly how to combat the nepotism affecting hospital post appointments. Some have criticised Wakley’s writing style as being a little rough around the edges and far too blunt at times.
