Samuel Jones Gee 1839-1911 F. 1870

Portrait/X200

Samuel Jones Gee 1839-1911 F. 1870

c.1900

By Charles Vigor

To the waist, seated, looking to the left. Sparse grey hair, blue eyes, greyish white moustache and whiskers; wearing blue cravat and dark suit; brown background. Inscribed on the back: Dr. Gee painted by Vigor.

Painted probably about 1900.

English

Given by his daughter, Miss E. T. Gee, 1957.

Oil on canvas, 32 by 26½ inches

Samuel Gee was born in London. He was made assistant physician at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in 1866. Two years later he moved to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where he became full physician in 1878. He was also prominent in the affairs of the Royal College of Physicians.

Gee was not a prolific writer but his Auscultation and Percussion (1870) was recognized as a minor classic in its day, and a collection of his Medical Lectures and Aphorisms (1902) by Horder won almost equal recognition at a later date. He was the first to identify coeliac disease. His works bore evidence of a deep knowledge of the history of medicine. He was considered one of the most brilliant teachers of his time, despite, or perhaps with the help of, certain mannerisms which students delighted to mimic. A shy man with few social graces, he attained his position by sheer hard work and an accurate judgement.