M.D. He paid some attention to chemistry, and was elected F.R.S. 3 Nov. 1747. He settled in practice at Bath, and in 1750 published ‘A Chemical Analysis of Bath Waters.’ The book describes a series of experiments to determine the mineral constituents of the thermal springs at Bath. The chemical system of Boerhaave is followed, and the inquiry is carefully conducted on scientific principles. Charleton was elected physician to the Bath General Hospital 2 June 1757, and then lived in Alfred Street. He published a second tract, ‘An Inquiry into the Efficacy of Bath Waters in Palsies,’ and reprinted it in 1774, with his first publication and ‘Tract the Third, containing Cases of Patients admitted into the Hospital at Bath under the care of the late Mr. Oliver, with some additional Cases and Notes,’ the whole making an octavo of 258 pages. The volume is dedicated to Thomas, duke of Leeds, who was one of the editor's patients. It contains some interesting cases, and demonstrates that part of the reputation of the Bath waters as a cure for palsy was due to the large number of cases of paralysis from lead poisoning who arrived with useless limbs, and were cured by abstinence from cyder having lead in solution, and by frequent bathing. Under the head of palsies ‘from cyder and bilious cholics’ Charleton has 237 cases, of which only five are classed as ‘no better.’ He belonged to the London College of Physicians, and retired from the Royal Society in 1754. He seems to have given up his chemical pursuits and to have devoted himself to practice. He resigned his post at the hospital 1 May 1781, and died in 1789.
[Works; Stranger’s Guide to Bath. 1773; Thomson's History of Royal Society, 1812; MS. Records of Bath Mineral Water Hospital.]
CHARLETON, ROBERT (1809–1872), a Friend, the eldest son of James Charleton, who died at Ashley Hill, Bristol, in 1847, was born in Bristol on 15 April 1809, and after a business training under H. F. Cotterell, a land surveyor at Bath, became the proprietor of a pin manufactory at Kingswood, near Bristol, in 1833, and continued that business until his retirement in 1852. He was one of the earliest of the advocates of total abstinence. He lectured on that subject in England in 1836, and in 1842 with his friend Samuel Capper in Ireland. At the same time he advocated the doctrines of the Friends, and in 1849 accompanied Capper in his tent-meeting tour in Oxfordshire and the neighbouring counties. His philanthropic labours were very numerous. The schools at Kingswood and Oldland Common were mainly dependent on his support and superintendence, also the large British school in Redcross Street, Bristol. The Peace Society was another institution which engaged his attention; and in 1854, on the prospect of a war with Russia, he was a member of a deputation of three persons sent from London to present an address to the Emperor Nicholas at St. Petersburg against the war. This address was graciously received by the emperor on 10 Feb. (Illust. London News, 4 and 11 March 1854). Again in 1858, in company with Robert Forster, he presented to the northern powers of Europe the plea for liberty of conscience issued by the Society of Friends. At the commencement of 1860 he was unanimously recorded by the monthly meeting of Bristol ‘as an approved minister of the Gospel.’ Henceforth his time was chiefly occupied in lecturing throughout England and Ireland. He was an advocate of the Permissive Bill, and much averse to the Contagious Diseases Acts. He died at his residence, Ashley Down, near Bristol, on 5 Dec. 1872. He married, on 13 Dec. 1849, Catherine Brewster, the eldest daughter of Thomas Fox of Ipswich. He was the author of: 1. ‘Opposition to the War;’ an address, 1855. 2. ‘A Lecture on the Protestant Reformation in England,’ 1863. 3. ‘A Brief Memoir of William Forster,’ 1867. 4. ‘Thoughts on Barclay's Apology,’ 1868. 5. ‘Thoughts on the Atonement,’ 1869.
[Anna F. Fox's Memoir of Robert Charleton, 1873, with portrait; Times, 7 Dec. 1872, p. 12.]
CHARLETON, WALTER, M.D. (1619–1707), physician, was the son of the rector of Shepton Mallett in Somerset, where he was born 2 Feb. 1619. He received his early education from his father, and when sixteen entered at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, under the tuition of Dr. Wilkins. The influence of the author of the essay towards a real character and a philosophical language may probably be traced in the elaborate tabulation and analysis which characterize all the writings of Charleton. Some of his university exercises and notes are extant (Sloane MS. 1532), and show that he worked hard as an undergraduate, and had already formed the beautiful handwriting which he preserved all its clearness to the end of his days. At the early age of twenty-two (1641) he received the degree of M.D., and in the same year was appointed physician to the king, who was then at Oxford. As Harvey was in actual attendance on the royal person, Charleton's appointment must be regarded as an act of favour to a promising member of the loyal university, rather than a proof of the young doctor's professional skill. In 1650 Charleton settled in
