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Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet (April 16, 1660 - January, 11 1753) was an Irish physician and collector. Inspired by a childhood interest in natural history he decided to studied medicine. He went to London where he directed his attention to botany, materia medica, and pharmacy. He then went to France and at the University of Orange took his M.D. degree in 1683. His practice as a physician among the upper classes was extremely lucrative. He served three successive sovereigns, Queen Anne, George I and George II. In 1716, he was created a baronet, the first medical practitioner to receive an hereditary title, and in 1719 he became president of the Royal College of Physicians, holding the office for sixteen years. He was a founding governor of London's Foundling Hospital, the nation's first institution to care for abandoned children. He died in 1753 at the age of 92. He bequeathed his books, manuscripts, prints, drawings, flora, fauna, medals, coins, seals, cameos and other curiosities to the nation, on condition that parliament should pay to his executors a modest sum (20, 00 British sterling pounds) which was a good deal less than the value of the collection. A significant proportion of this collection was later to become the foundation for the Natural History Museum.
