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From: "Tony Fuller" <>
Subject: [HWE] Delaune and Apothecaries
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2003 09:22:32 +0100


Hi Barbara

Is there a listing of Apothecaries online from the 1500s? My Delaune was the apothecary who was one of the founders of the Societe of Apothecaries in London at Blackfriars

I have absolutely no ideas. Do a google search for the Guildhall Library in London - I seem to recall that they may have some of the older records for the Society of Apothecaries but I'm not absolutely sure. But be warned, if they do lookups or any similar work for you there they may well charge you for the work at GB£50 per hour.

I understand that he was not able to be a physician right away

Physicians and apothecaries were two entirely different trades. Physicians would have been the barber surgeons or the medical doctors like John Locke was almost a century later. Apothecaries were not doctors as we recognise them now, instead they were the chemists/herbalists of their time, people who made diagnoses of patients ailments and prescribed and made up the herbal/chemical remedies that were then applied. They were the forerunners of our modern dispensing chemists but with a more direct access to their patients.

As well as, apothecary in the James I court to Queen Anne, it is said.

James acceded to the throne in 1601 and reigned for 22 year. He married Anne, Princess of Denmark before he came to the English throne, by which time she had performed her duties and provided him with three viable children. There seems to have been little affection in their relationship as James was overtly gay despite his religious beliefs. Anne died in 1619 so if Delaune was her apothecary, it seems to me to be unlikely that he was a Huguenot refugee, more likely one of the many French Protestants that came to England prior to the widespread persecutions - like the Delamain family who came over with Charles I bride. Important to remember that the French Church in London was founded 100 years prior to the Revocation.

One of his sons is the missing link I am looking for (the one who ended up in Ireland) and supposedly an original member of the Huguenot Society there.
However, I find one Delaune there but cannot find any details about him. Such a mystery. Someone so well known shouldn't be this hard to lock in but I'm
finding it difficult.

I think by that you mean he was an early member of the Huguenot community there, the Society did not emerge until the mid/late 19th century. The problem with Huguenots is that they assimilated very quickly, often anglicising their names. Other families, like the Delamains, also disappear, despite them having some posh jobs given to them by the Crown. If you've not already done so Barbara, drop a line to Annette Camier at Sunhaven, Celbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland who is top banana in the Irish section of the Hug Soc - she may be able to help.

Hope this helps in some way

Regards

Tony Fuller

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