CAMPER. 



Camper, taught by Gaubius, Van Rooyen, the Elder A'.binus, 

 and Trioen ; the age and infirmities of Boerhaave ha- 

 ving disabled him from attending his public duty in 

 the university, and from becoming the preceptor of 

 the son of his friend. Under these masters, Camper 

 soon rose to distinction ; and when he received his 

 decree of doctor in philosophy and medicine in 1746, 

 he published two dissertations, the one, De Fisu, 

 the other, De Oculi quibusdam partibus, which have 

 both been much praised by Baldinger. 



Having finished his studies at Leyden, he was now 

 desirous of visiting the different capitals and univer- 

 sities of Europe, and of improving the acquaintance 

 which he had already formed with several of their 

 most eminent literati. But the age and growing 

 weakness of his parents demanding the presence 

 and the tenderest attentions of an affectionate son, 

 prevented for a time the fulfilment of his \vishes. 

 This obstacle, however, was in a few years removed 

 by their death, which happened in 1748 ; and Cam- 

 per soon after set out for London. Here he asso- 

 ciated with the celebrated physicians Mead, Pringle, 

 Pitcairn, &c. He renewed his medical studies un- 

 der Hunter, Sharp, Smellie, and Winchester ; and 

 his taste for natural history was awakened by his vi- 

 siting the cabinets of Hans Sloane and Collinson, and 

 the collections of Hill and Catesby. Endowed with 

 an inquisitive and comprehensive mind, his researches 

 were not confined to any particular branch of science. 

 He delighted in the wide range of general know- 

 ledge ; and examined, with the eye of a philosopher, 

 the different improvements in every department of 

 the arts. He attended the most eminent artists and 

 mechanicians, deriving from each such instructions 

 as were connected with their particular professions ; 

 and the improvements in naval architecture engaged 

 a considerable share of his attention. Here, al- 

 so, his taste for painting was not forgotten ; and 

 .he even acquired some practical knowledge in the 

 art of engraving. Having spent nearly twelve 

 months in London, zealously engaged in scienti- 

 fic and literary pursuits, he went to Paris in the 

 summer of 1749, where he was introduced to Buf- 

 fon and some other distinguished characters, and 

 where he remained about two months, visiting 

 the principal public establishments of that capi- 

 tal. He then repaired to Lyons, and from thence 

 to Geneva. During his stay at this latter city, he 

 was appointed professor of philosophy, anatomy, and 

 surgery, at Franeker, which obliged him to hasten 

 his return to Holland. On his journey home, how- 

 ever, he staid a few days at some of the principal 

 cities of Switzerland and Germany. At Basle, he 

 visited Bernoulli ; and, in the library of that city, 

 examined the writings of Erasmus, and the paintings 

 of Holbein. 



A severe malady with which he was seized at Ley- 

 den, during the winter of 174-9, prevented him from 

 entering upon the duties of his new office until the 



their 



member, with discourses upon the following subject , . 



fogia inter stirpes et animsUia ;" and " De Pulchro phvsico." 



following autumn, when he began his prelections Camper, 

 with a discourse De Mnndo Optimo, f Not con- v 

 tent, however, with the knowledge of his profession 

 which he had already acquired, or the connections 

 which he had formed in foreign countries, he revisit- 

 ed London during the vacation of 1752, and a se- 

 cond time attended the lectures of some of its ablest 

 physicians. 



At Franeker, Camper continued to teach with 

 increasing celebrity, and was always attended by a 

 numerous audience, until 1755, when he was ap- 

 pointed professor of anatomy and surgery at the 

 Athenaeum of Amsterdam.- Here he remained near- 

 ly six years ; and it was during his residence in that 

 city that he puMUhed the first volume of his Demon- 

 strationes Anatomico-Pathologicce. But the bustle 

 of the capital, and the wish of Mrs Camper to re- 

 turn to Frieslatid, determined him to resign his situa- 

 tion in the Athenaeum ; and, in 1761, he retired to 

 his country-house near Fraueker, still retaining, how- 

 ever, the title of honorary professor in that acade- 

 my. His whole time was now devoted to the sci- 

 ences ; and he published the second volume of his 

 Demonstrations in 1762. 



After remaining two years in his retirement, he 

 was nominated to the professorship of medicine, sur- 

 gery, anatomy, and botany, in the university of 

 Grouingen. The vicinity of this city to his present 

 habitation the natural activity of his mind^-and hi 

 love of famedetermined him to accept the situa- 

 tion. During the ten years which he continued a 

 member of this university, his reputation daily in- 

 creased. Besides many valuable papers on medical 

 subjects, which he presented to the different societies 

 of Europe, he made several important discoveries in 

 natural history ; and, during the last years of his 

 residence in Groningen, he gave a course of lecture* 

 on medical jurisprudence, which many of his col- 

 leagues, the magistrates of the city, and the law- 

 yers, honoured with their presence and approbation. 

 He quitted Groningen with regret ; and received, 

 on his departure, the most unequivocal testimonies 

 of affection and esteem from many of the principal 

 inhabitants. He often declared, that the years which 

 he spent in that city were the happiest of his life ; 

 and that probably he never would have quitted a so- 

 ciety where he was treated with such kindness and 

 respect, had not the desire of Mrs Camper, and hi 

 resolution to superintend the education of his chiU 

 dren, obliged him to make the sacrifice. 



Camper now fixed his residence at FT aneker for the 

 education of his children ; and, being freed from the 

 labours of public teaching, he devoted himself en- 

 tirely to his favourite pursuits. His studies, how- 

 ever, were for a time interrupted by the death of 

 Mrs Camper, to whom he was most tenderly attach- 

 ed, and whose estimable qualities, during an union 

 of twenty years, had constituted the chief comfort 

 of his life. Une juste douleur, says his son, detou- 



