Edward Headlam Greenhow

Edward Headlam Greenhow was born in 1814 in North Shields. His father, grandfather and uncle all worked in the medical profession, and he followed in their footsteps. His Uncle was Thomas Michael Greenhow.

He studied at Edinburgh and Montpellier before entering into a partnership with his father, where he practiced in North Shields and Tynemouth for eighteen years.  

He was particularly interested in how a person's health and the spread of disease is linked with sanitation and their living conditions. Edward became Chairman of the Board of Health at Tynemouth and led great improvements to the towns’ sanitation and drainage.  

In 1852, he graduated as a medical doctor (M.D) from King’s College, University of Aberdeen and then moved to London to establish himself as a physician.  

His interest in public health continued and in 1855 he became the first lecturer on the subject in the country, at St Thomas’s Hospital in London. Here he met a number of important colleagues including Thomas Addison and those associated with cholera investigations.  

Because of his connections to these networks, he became involved in public health inquiries, working for the Board of Health and Privy council. His work being published in parliamentary papers and feeding into reforms and legislation such as the Public Health Act 1858.  

His work on public health included diptheria, and investigations into whether pulmonary disease (lung disease) in workers such as miners, grinders and flax dressers was linked to exposure to dust. 

Greenhow became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1859.  

In 1861 Edward joined Middlesex Hospital as assistant physician. He later became Dean of the Medical School then lead physician, lecturer, treasure and chairman.  

During his career, Edward had many achievements including: serving multiple Royal Commissions, contributing to legislative reform, becoming chair of the Epidemiological Society of London (of which John Snow was a founder), and other important organisations as well researching and writing books on Addison’s disease, diptheria and chronic bronchitis and lecturing on many subjects including public health.  

Greenhow retired in 1881 to Reigate, Surrey and died suddenly at Charring Cross Station on 22nd November 1888.