The life and work of renowned 19th-century naval surgeon and physician, Sir William Beatty, is being explored in all its fascinating and often grisly detail in a new exhibition at the Old Royal Naval College.
Opening this November, Blood & Battle: Dissecting the Life of William Beatty marks 200 years since Beatty took up the post of physician to the Royal Hospital for Seamen in Greenwich – now the Old Royal Naval College. Blood & Battle takes a deep dive into his exceptional career as well as the wider world of medical practice in Nelson’s navy.
The exhibition runs until 25 March 2023 and will allow visitors to see the tools of the naval surgeon’s bloody practice and learn how he saved the lives of an overwhelming number of sailors – which was unusual at the time. The exhibition will feature a range of objects, including a replica of Nelson’s life mask, as well as 18th and 19th-century surgical instruments, including Beatty’s own medicine chest. Visitors can experience what it was like to be in HMS Victory’s cockpit during battle, with an immersive recreation of the make-shift medical bay complete with sights, smells and sounds.
