History

Sir Hans Sloane

Sloane’s Voyage To Jamaica

Leaving Killyleagh around 1679, Hans Sloane moved to London to pursue studies in medicine and chemistry. Sloane went on to study botany and other medical disciplines, attending lectures at the Hospital de la Charite in Paris and the Royal Garden of Plants, finishing his studies in Montpellier. Due to him being of the protestant religion, to complete the degree of Doctor of Medicine he was obliged to enrol at the University of Orange. On his return to England with a letter of introduction to Sir Thomas Sydenham, the young doctor was introduced to some of the wealthiest and most fashionable patients in London.

In 1687, at the age of 25, at the recommendation of Dr Peter Barwick, Hans Sloane was invited to act as the personal physician to Christopher, Duke of Albemarle. The duke had been newly appointed as Governor to the Colony of Jamaica and, as he had already been ill, felt the need for a medical attendant.

Sloane secured himself a handsome salary, receiving £300 for preparations and a further £600 per year. He invested his salary in Peruvian bark. In later years the quinine provided from the bark gave him a valuable stock of medicine and his publications in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society helped to promote its use.

Continuing his interest in botany, Sloane used this unique opportunity to study the plants (and animals) of his new home. After drying and describing the plants, Sloane dried the best samples and had drawings of fruits, fish, birds and insects done by the Rev. Mr. Garrett Moore. Some 800 specimens were brought back to England, on his return, and the bulk of these formed the foundation of the collections of the British Museum.

While searching for new plants for the use of drugs or food, Sloane’s attention turned to the dark chocolate drink taken by the natives. Initially he found it to be nauseous and hard on the digestion and felt that it could not be recommended.

Years later in England, remembering his early experience with chocolate Sloane mixed it with milk. The mixture was manufactured and sold, first by Nicholas Sanders, and later by William White of Greek St., Soho. When Linnaeus named the cocoa plant he called it Theobroma cacao "drink of the gods".

The voyage to Jamaica began on September 12th 1687 on board the frigate Assistance.

Accompanying the frigate were two merchant ships and the Duke’s private yacht. Calling at various ports on the way the travellers entered Port Royal harbour in Jamaica on December 19th 1687.

Sloane’s medical knowledge was put to good use during his short visit to Jamaica. He tentatively used his traditional methods and concluded that things were not so different as supposed. He was met with great success, although mortalities were many and through his diligence achieved the trust of the islanders.

Unfortunately, his expertise could not prevent the death of the 35 year old duke months after their arrival on the island of Jamaica. The duchess prepared to leave 15 months after their arrival and Sloane endeavoured to return to England with live specimens, "a large yellow snake, a guana or great lizard, a crocodile & c." However, the snake "being weary of its confinement" escaped its jar and was shot. The guana lasted well until , while running along the gunnel of the ship, was startled by a sailor, fell overboard and drowned. The crocodile also died and put an end to the live specimens.

The company left Jamaica on March 16th 1689 and reached England May 29th. When they reached Plymouth they sent an armed longboat ahead to find out the political situation and discovered that William III now ruled with James IV in exile in France.

Sloane’s book "Voyage to the islands of Madeira, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica with the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles & c. of the last of those islands ...." was published in two volumes.

Vol I was published in 1707, Vol II in 1725. The delay in these publications was, according to the author, due to "a multiplicity of business in the practice of physic, which I esteem one of my first cares and must be minded if the lives of persons be regarded with due attention to the several symptoms and changes of their diseases."

On returning to England, due to Sloane’s association with the widowed duchess, he was able to build up a fashionable practice. He acquiring aristocratic patients and because of his trip to the West Indies he could speak with authority of the virtues of new herbal remedies and contributed to the introduction of a number of new drugs.

Graphics kindly supplied by Professor Bob Elwood and Queens University Belfast.