Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 52.djvu/37

 He received his diploma at the Surgeons' Company on 2 Nov. 1775. He lectured on anatomy at Great Windmill Street school under (1718–1783) [q. v.], and in 1777 he opened a private theatre in Great Queen Street, where he spent his time in scientific researches and in teaching anatomy. He was surgeon to the General Medical Asylum in Welbeck Street, and on 18 July 1782 he was appointed professor of anatomy to the Royal Academy in succession to William Hunter. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 29 April 1784, and on 20 April 1786 he became surgeon to the Westminster Hospital, a post he resigned two years later. His health broke down in 1788, and he removed to Exeter, his house in Great Queen Street being taken and his teaching continued by [q. v.] Sheldon was elected surgeon to the Devon and Exeter Hospital on 25 July 1797.

Sheldon spent much time in studying the lymphatic system, and but for his ill-health his results would probably have surpassed those obtained by [q. v.] He also devoted much attention to the art of embalming. Both this and his work upon the lymphatics were due to William Hunter's inspiration, and Sheldon was engaged upon both at the time of his death. He believed that he had discovered an easy method of catching whales with poisoned harpoons, and he made a voyage to Greenland to test its efficacy. It is said that he was the first Englishman to make an ascent in a balloon, and his ascent from Chelsea in 1784 was the subject of a caricature by Paul Sandby. He died at his cottage on the river Exe on 8 Oct. 1808.

A life-size three-quarter-length portrait, by A. W. Devis (1763–1822), is in the conservator's room at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn Fields. It is traditionally reported that Rowlandson introduced a portrait of Sheldon into his picture of ‘The Dissecting Room.’

His works were:
 * 1) ‘The History of the Absorbent System,’ London, 4to, 1784. The first part only was issued. It is stated at the end of the volume that ‘the French and German editions of this part are in great forwardness and will soon be published,’ and that many of the plates for the second part are engraved. The book is an excellent piece of scientific work, and is dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks.
 * 2) ‘An Essay on the Fracture of the Patella or Kneepan … with Observations on the Fracture of the Olecranon,’ London, 8vo, 1789; a new edit. London, 8vo, 1819. Sheldon also edited Lieberkühn's ‘Quatuor Dissertationes,’ London, 1782.

 SHELDON, NATHANIEL (1705–1780), jesuit. [See ]

 SHELDON, RICHARD (d. 1642?), divine, was probably descended from a branch of the catholic family of Sheldon of Beoley in Worcestershire. Destined for the priesthood, he was sent during the pontificate of Clement VIII to the English Jesuit College at Rome. Having attained great proficiency there, he returned to England, visiting Spain on his way. About 1610 he was imprisoned as a Jesuit. Always holding moderate views, he published in 1611 a treatise entitled 'The Lawfulness of the Oath of Allegiance.' Soon afterwards, on his professing himself a protestant, he was released. He was immediately employed by King James, together with William Warmington, another convert, to write a book against Vorstius (Cal. State Papers, 1611-18, p. 119). Subsequently he published several works against Catholicism on his own account.

For a time Sheldon enjoyed the kind's favour. He was appointed a royal chaplain, and received the honorary degree of D.D. from Cambridge University. The negotiations for the Spanish match, however, inclined James to tolerance, and Sheldon's zeal against his old faith became distasteful. In 1622 he preached a sermon against those bearing the mark of the beast, for which he received a severe reprimand (Harl. MS. 389, f. 228). He never regained the royal favour, though he endeavoured to propitiate Charles by writing in defence of the royal prerogative (Cal. State Papers, 1640-1, p. 374). He died in obscurity soon after 1641.

Besides several sermons, he published:
 * 1) 'Motives of R. S. for his Renunciation of Communion with the Bishop of Rome,' London, 1612, 4to.
 * 2) 'A Survey of the Miracles of the Church of Rome,' London, 1616, 4to.
 * 3) 'Man's Last End, or the Glorious Vision and Fruition of God,' London, 1634, 4to.

 SHELDRAKE, TIMOTHY (fl. 1756), M.D., a native of Norwich, was descended from an old Norfolk family, a member of which, John Sheldrake, was mayor of Thetford in 1632, while William Sheldrake was rector of Barton in Charles II's reign. Timothy was author of: ‘The Causes of