Sir John Charles Bucknill 1817–1897: Our Founder

Abstract

‘Citizen, soldier and psychologist’ was the description of Sir John used by his obituarist. He was an eminent psychiatrist of his time, but why is he mentioned as a psychologist and what did he do for the Army to be rewarded with a knighthood? He established his career in rural Devon and at the age of 27 he became the first medical superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum, now the Exminster wing of Exe Vale Hospital. Here he remained for 18 years, but at the age of 45 on becoming Lord Chancellor's Visitor, he retired with a pension of £650, the fruits of leading a vigorous campaign on behalf of medical superintendents who were previously unsuperannuated.