Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 59.djvu/7



Wakeman WAKEMAN, GEORGE (fl. 1668–1685), 'doctor of physic' and physician in ordinary to Queen Catherine of Braganza, was the son of Edward Wakeman (1592-1659) of the Inner Temple, by Mary (d. 1676), daughter of Richard Cotton of Warblington, Sussex. The father was the grandson of Richard Wakeman (d. 1597) of Beckford, Gloucestershire, nephew of John Wakeman [q. v.], last abbot of Tewkesbury and first bishop of Gloucester (cf., Hist. of Tewkesbury, 1803, p. 116).

George Wakeman, who was a zealous Roman catholic, was educated abroad, probably in Paris, where he possibly graduated in medicine. Like his elder brother Richard (d. 1662), who raised a troop of horse for the king, he was a staunch royalist, and upon his return to England he became involved in a plot against the Protector, and was imprisoned until the eve of the Restoration. On 13 Feb. 1661, as Wakeman of Beckford, he was created a baronet by Charles II, though it seems that the patent was never sealed (, Baronetage, 1741, iv. 277). The first trace of Sir George's professional activity is in August 1668, when he appears have been attending Sir Joseph Williamson (see Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1668, p. 524). He seems to have owed his appointment some two years later as physician in ordinary to Queen Catherine of Braganza mainly to the fact that he enjoyed the best repute of any Roman catholic physician in England. In their perjured 'Narrative' of the 'popish plot' Titus Oates and Israel Tonge declared that Wakeman had been offered 10,000l. to poison Charles II's 'posset.' It was pointed out that he could easily effect this through the agency of the queen. Wakeman, however, obstinately refused the task, and held out until 15,000l. was offered him. The temptation then, according to the 'Narrative,' proved too strong; he attended the Jesuit consult on 30 Aug. 1678, received a large sum of money on account, and, the further reward of a post as physician-general in the army having been promised him, he definitely engaged to take off the king by poison. Wakeman was a man of very high reputation, and from the first the charge against him was repugnant to men of sense like John Evelyn. The government, too, were reluctant to allow any steps to be taken against him. But after their successes in the trials of the early part of 1679 the whig leaders were eager to fly at higher game, and in aiming at Wakeman their object was to strike the queen. The government was constrained to yield to the pressure. Both parties felt that the trial would be a test one, and it proved most important in determining the future of the agitation of which the 'plot' was the instrument.

Wakeman was indicted for high treason at the Old Bailey on 18 July 1679, the case being tried by Lord-chief-justice Scroggs. The chief witnesses for the prosecution were Bedloe and Oates, who swore that he had seen the paper appointing Wakeman to the post of physician-general and also his receipt for 5,000l. (on account of the 15,000l.), though it was elicited from him in the course of the proceedings that he was incapable at the time alluded to of identifying either Wakeman's person or his handwriting. Scroggs animedverted severely upon the character of the evidence, and the jury, after asking if they might find the prisoners guilty of misprision of treason, and being told they could not, found all the prisoners 'not guilty.' The effect of the acquittal was considerable