Benjamin Hobson

Benjamin Hobson (1816–1873) was a British medical missionary who is best known for his work in China. He was instrumental in introducing Western medical science and medical education to China in the mid-19th century.

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Benjamin Hobson in Canton

Early Life and Education

Hobson was born in 1816 in Welford, Northamptonshire, England. He studied medicine at University College London and was later appointed by the London Missionary Society to serve as a medical missionary in China.

Medical Missionary Work in China

Hobson arrived in Macau, China in 1839. He established a hospital and a medical school in Guangzhou (Canton), where he trained Chinese students in Western medical science. His work was pioneering in the sense that it was one of the first attempts to systematically introduce Western medical knowledge to China.

Hobson's most significant contribution was his series of medical textbooks, collectively known as Treatises on the New Medicine (Xin yixue shu). These books, which were translated into Chinese, covered a wide range of topics including anatomy, physiology, surgery, and obstetrics. They were widely read and had a profound influence on the development of modern medicine in China.

Later Life and Legacy

Hobson returned to England in 1859 due to ill health. He continued to promote the cause of medical missions and published several books on the subject. He died in 1873.

Hobson's work in China laid the foundation for the modernization of medicine in the country. His textbooks were used for many years and helped to train a generation of Chinese doctors in Western medical science.