Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Baines, Thomas (1622-1680)

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672169Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 02 — Baines, Thomas (1622-1680)1885Thomas Finlayson Henderson

BAINES, Sir THOMAS, M.D. (1622–1680), the lifelong companion of Sir John Finch, M.D., was born about 1622. He was educated at Christ College, Cambridge, under the tuition of Henry More, and took the degree of B.A. in 1642, and M.A. in 1649. An accident brought him under the notice of John Finch, then at the same college, and from this time they became inseparable friends. Having accompanied Finch to Italy, Baines was created doctor of physic at Padua, and he received the same degree from Cambridge on his return to England in 1660. On 8 March of the same year he was chosen Gresham professor of music, and in May he was elected, along with Sir John Finch, a fellow extraordinary of the College of Physicians, London. From 1664 to 1670 he was at Florence, where Finch was ambassador. On his appointment, in 1672, to accompany Sir John Finch to Tuscany, in the character of physician, he received the honour of knighthood. Some years afterwards he was transferred, along with Finch, to Constantinople. He made arrangements for discharging his professorial duties by deputy, but, on account of his prolonged absence, he was deprived of the chair before the news of his death, at Constantinople, 5 Sept. 1680, reached England. His remains were embalmed by Sir John Finch, who brought them to England on his return thither, and deposited them in the chapel of Christ's College, Cambridge. Finch died shortly afterwards, and was buried in the same grave, above which there is an epitaph in Latin to their joint memories by Henry More.

[Hutchinson's Biographia Medica, i. 52-3; Ward's Gresham Professors, 227-232; Munk's Roll of the College of Physicians, i. 301-2,]

T. F. H.