Page:A History of the Indian Medical Service, 1600-1913 Vol 1.djvu/206

 CHAPTER XII

WILLIAM FULLERTON, AND THE PATNA MASSACRE

" Audentes fortuna juvat."

Virgil, Mneid, Book X, line 284.

William Fullerton appears to have come out to India about 1745, but the first definite mention of his name occurs in Fort William Cons, of 19th Aug., 1749. where he renews an interest note for Rs.16,137.* A Letter from Bengal, dated 23rd Aug., 1750, in para. 80, reports that Holwell has resigned his post as Second Surgeon from 30th April, 1750, and that Fullerton has appHed to succeed him " agreeable to Compy's Recommenda- tion Anno 1744," but that the President has given the appoint- ment to John Knox, senior. The Court of Directors refused to confirm the appointment of Knox, and ordered that of Fullerton. f He held the post of Second Surgeon for over ten years, and was present at the siege and capture of Fort Wilham in June, 1756. At the time of the final surrender he was on board ship, pre- sumably on duty, attending the women and children, some of whom were sick, among them Mrs. Mackett, wife of a Member of Council, and the wounded, of whom many had been sent on board. On 8th Dec, i757> he was elected Mayor of Calcutta for the ensuing year.

Fullerton made a considerable amount of money m Calcutta. The lists of payments to European sufferers at the capture of Calcutta, quoted in the last chapter, show that he got compensation to the extent of nearly Rs.2,30,000, a sum not far short of £30 000. The Cons, of 1759 and 1760 contain numerous notes of bills for large amounts drawn in his favour by the Patna

show him as Surgeon of the Bombay Grab. J^^^ Cons, ot 3^^ May, 175, V him as Surgeon at Gombroon, vice Hardcastle, siclc.

t See Chap X. The First Half of the Eighteenth Century.