AR'BUTHNOT, JOHN, a distinguished writer and physician, the contemporary and friend of Pope and Swift, WV. the son of a Scottish Episcopal clergyman; and b. at Arbuthnot, in Kincardineshire, shortly after the restoration. He studied medicine at Aberdeen, where lie took his degree. A.'s father was obliged to resign his charge at the revolution. His sons' prospects being thus blighted in their own country, they were under the necessity of going abroad to seek their fortune. John removed soon after to London, and there supported himself by teaching mathematics. In 1097, he published an examination of Dr. Woodward's account of the deluge, which brought hint into notice as a person of no common ability. Accident called him into attendance on prince Ocorge of Denmark, who thenceforth patronized him, In 1709, lie was appointed physician to the queen, and in 1710 was elected a member of the Royal college of physicians. On the death of queen Anne, in 1714, he lost his situation, and his circum stances were never so prosperous afterwards. In 1717, A., along with Pope, gave assist ance to Gay in a farce, entitled Three Hours after Marriage, which, however, in spite of having the aid of a trio of wits, proved a complete failure. In 1723, he was chosen
second censor of the Royal college of physicians; in 1727, lie was made an elect, and had the honor to pronounce the Harveian oration for the year. He died at Hempstead, in 1735. A. was one of the leaders in that circle of wits which adorned the reign of queen Anne, and was still more nobly distinguished by the rectitude of his morals and the goodness of his heart. He assisted Swift and Pope in the composition of that brilliant satire, the Memoirs of Martinas Scriblerus, contributing those portions of it which refer to science and philosophy; and he was undoubtedly the author of the celebrated politi cal jeu d'esprit, the history of „John Bull, which has so often been imitated. Besides several medical essays, lie pulnished Tables of Greek, Roman, and Jewish Measures, Weights, and Coins (London. 1705-8), a work which was long the best authority on the subject. There is also a philosophical poem of his composition in Dodsley's Miscellanies, entitled " Know Thyself."