Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 10.djvu/225

 Cheney, a visit at Chelsea, and saw those ingenious waterworks invented by Mr. Winstanley, wherein were some things very surprising and extraordinary.' Cheyne died on 30 June 1698, and was interred at Chelsea, where in the parish church is a monument to his memory. His first wife dying in 1669, he remarried after 1686 Isabella, widow of John Roberts, first earl of Radnor. By his first wife he left one son, William, who succeeded him, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Catharine.

, second viscount, born in 1667, was M.P. for Buckinghamshire under Anne, lord-lieutenant of the county in 1712, and was removed from that office on George I's accession in 1714. He sold the manor of Chelsea to Sir Hans Sloane in 1712, but several streets are still called after his family. With his death, 14 Dec. 1738, the peerage became extinct.  CHEYNE, GEORGE, M.D. (1671–1743), physician, was born in 1671 at Methlick, Aberdeenshire (, Book of Scotsmen) He received a classical education, being at first intended for the ministry. Nothing certain is known of his family, except that he was related to Bishop Burnet, and that his half-brother was a clergyman of the church of England, who died vicar of Weston, near Bath. Cheyne became tutor in a gentleman's family (perhaps that of the Earl of Roxburghe), but was induced by the advice of Dr. Archibald Pitcairn to embrace the profession of medicine. He became a student under Pitcairn, who was at that time professor of medicine at Edinburgh, and the chief representative of the so-called iatromathematical school of medical science. Cheyne, who was a good mathematician, eagerly embraced the doctrines of his master, and soon had the opportunity of taking part in a controversy which arose between the adherents and the opponents of Pitcairn's system respecting some points in the treatment of fevers. The dispute was being carried on by the Scotch physicians with a fervour characteristic of their age and nation, when Cheyne was moved by his 'great master and generous friend' to write a statement of the latter's views, under the title of 'A New Theory of Fevers,' which, though composed in haste and without much aid from books, was at once ordered for the press. In after years Cheyne spoke of this work (which was anonymous) as a raw and inexperienced performance. The first edition was probably printed at Edinburgh in 1702, but a second edition appeared at London in the same year. The originator of the controversy. Dr. Charles Oliphant, appears to have replied, and Cheyne published an anonymous rejoinder, entitled 'Remarks on two late Pamphlets written by Dr. Oliphant against Dr. Pitcairn's Dissertations and the New Theory of Fevers' (Edin. 1702). Long afterwards, in the preface to his 'Essay on Health,' Cheyne regretted and honourably apologised for the personalities which he introduced into this pamphlet. At this time, or immediately after, he came to London, and was elected fellow of the Royal Society 18 March 1701-2. Having obtained the degree of M.D. (from what university cannot discovered), he commenced practice in London, though without belonging to the College of Physicians. Some years afterwards (5 May 1724?) he received an honorary diploma from the Edinburgh College (History of Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, p. 16, Min. 1882). Cheyne's mathematical bias was shown in his next work, 'Fluxionum Methodus Inversa' (Lond. 1703, 4to), a treatise on the mathematical method then called fluxions, known in its modern improved form as the integral calculus; a method set forth as applicable to medical as well as to mechanical science. This work called forth in 1704 some criticisms from the celebrated mathematician, Abraham De Moivre [q. v.], to which Cheyne replied under the title 'Rudimentorum methodi Fluxionum Inversræ specimina, ad versus Abr. de Moivre' (Lond. 1705). The bitter tone of this pamphlet was, as in the former case, deeply regretted by Cheyne in after life, and it was his last essay in what he calls 'these barren and airy studies.' Still occupied with scientific rather than medical subjects, he published in 1705 'Philosophical Principles of Natural Religion,' a treatise on natural theology, the physical part of which is taken from Newton and other standard authorities. It was composed originally for the use of his pupil John, earl (afterwards duke) of Roxburghe, and is said by the author to have been used as a textbook in both universities. There is little or nothing original in it. The barren speculations on an obsolete school of medical thought possess now only an historical interest, but Cheyne was to produce in after years works of more permanent value, the history of which is strangely interwoven with that of his own life, graphically told by himself in 'The English Malady.' Having been from his youth accustomed to sedentary and temperate habits, he, on coming up to London, suddenly changed his manner of life. He frequented the society of 'the younger gentry and free  GooBoo link to pg 217 for verification