PRING – Physicians, Surgeons and Apothecaries
Updated; September 2025
The practice of Medicine in England by the 16th Century comprised of a few Physicians, Surgeons and Apothecaries, there were also Barbers, who besides cutting hair, and shaving carried out Blood Letting.
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded by Charter in 1518, in the 10th year of the reign of King Henry VIII. By the 1700’s Physicians were seen as the Medical Aristocracy who made a diagnosis and wrote prescriptions, but did not dispense drugs
Apocatheries Guild
The Barbers and Surgeons Company of London was formed in 1540. The Barber Surgeon was the most common Medical Practitioner with tasks from; Cutting Hair and Shaving to Limb Amputations and Wound Treatment. Barber Surgeons were attended for Bloodletting, which was considered necessary to maintain good health
Apocatheries Act 1815
Apothecaries evolved from the Grocers Company, with King James 1st granting a Royal Charter in 1617, forming the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. Apothecaries sold, potions, powders and ingredients as medical remedies . The Apothecaries Act of 1815 established formal education in a 5 year Apprenticeship leading to General Practitioners. The Society issuing the Licence of Apothecaries (LSA).
In the 17th Century most practicing as ‘Doctors’ were Surgeons who had been indentured as an Apprentice to a Surgeon.
In 1745 the Surgeons split from the Barbers Company to form the Company of Surgeons. The College of Surgeons being founded in 1800 and chartered as the Royal College of Surgeons.
The United Kingdom Medical Act of 1858 created the General Medical Council (GMC)
which is now the Regulator for the Medical Profession in Medicine & Surgery
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) was created by Royal Charter in 1844.
The 1881 Veterinary Surgeons Act ensured that Veterinary Surgeons were identified from
those not formally qualified
PRINGs who became Physicians, Surgeons, Apothecaries.
Arthur PRING (b.1855 Bristol Gloucestershire – d. 23 Jan 1903 Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia)
Physician and Surgeon, Cambridge University.
LRCP & LRCS, Licentiate ; Uralla, New South Wales, Australia (1884), Taroom, Queensland (1899)
– Wife; Eva Ethel PRING (nee; AMESBURY)(b. 1874 South Yarra, Victoria, Australia) – Father; John PRING (bap. 27 Aug 1820 Wiveliscombe, Somerset – d. 6 Mar 1858 Bristol, Gloucestershire), Medical General Practitioner (MD. London), Westbury upon Trym, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1851).
Charles Herbert PRING (b. 1866 Clifton, Gloucestershire – d. 1925 Camberwell, London)
LSA - Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries (1903).
- 1911 Census; Physician & Surgeon, 278 Old Kent Rd., Southwark, St George the Martyr, Surrey (1911), 1921 Census; 47 Trafalgar RTd., Camberwlll, London (1921) - Wife; Mary Susan PRING (nee; PARKMAN) (b. 1864abt. Bristol, Gloucestershire) – Father; William PRING (bap. 5 Jul 1835 Taunton, Somerset), Brokers Clerk, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1851), Licensed Victualler, Chequers Tavern, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1871)
Charlotte Eliza PRING (b. 1876 Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire – d. 1953 Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, India) – Missionary, Surgeon and Physician.
LRCP - Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (1907 Edinburgh)
LRCS - Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons (1907 Edinburgh)
LFPS - Licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians & Surgeons (1907 Glasgow)
- Father, John PRING (bap. 16 Aug 1829 Bathwick, Somerset), Machine Fitter, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1851), Engineering Turner, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1861), Engine Fitter, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1871), Rtd. Engine Fitter, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1881).
Daniel PRING (b. 1789 Taunton, Somerset – d. 3 Jul 1859 Taunton, Somerset)
MRCS - Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (The 2nd Surgeon to perform a Colostomy in 1820.
Published many Medical books and articles; ‘Exposition of the Principles of Pathology and Treatment of Diseases’ 1823, London. Surgeon of Taunton, Somerset.(1851) - Unmarried. - Father; William PRING (bap. 10 Jan 1753 Awliscombe, Devon) Mercers Shop, Church Lane, Sherborne, Dorset (1774).
Edward Sidney PRING (b.23 Dec 1837 Bristol, Gloucestershire – d. 1906 Shifnal, Shropshire), Medical Student, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1861), Medical Assistant, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (1871), Surgeon Assistant, Shifnal, Shropshire (1881), Medical Assistant, Faringdon. Gloucestershire (1891) – Wife; Carol Augusta PRING (nee; HARDING) (b. 1840 Leighton Buzzed, Bedfordshire) – Father; John PRING (b.1810abt. Bristol, Gloucestershire). Tavern Keeper, Temple Gate, Railway Hotel, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1851).
Elijah PRING (bap. 24 Apr 1798 Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset – d. 19 May 1861 Dublin., Ireland)
LSA - Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries (Ireland 1847)
Dentist – Dublin, Ireland 1828
Wife; Harriet PRING (nee; LOCKE) (b. 1798 Taunton, Somerset) – Father; Benjamin PRING (bap. 5 Feb 1758 Bradford on Tone, Somerset).
Elijah James PRING (bap. 14 Oct 1825 Taunton, Somerset – d. 1872 Narrabri, New South Wales, Australia)
Medical Directory for Ireland (1852): - 30 Westmoreland St., Dublin.
LRCS - Licentiate of the Royal College Surgeons (1850 Ireland)
LSA - Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries (1848 Ireland)
Father; Elijah PRING (bap. 24 Apr 1798 Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset).
Francis Buncombe PRING (b. 16 Oct 1813 Taunton, Somerset – d. 29 Sep 1866 Grassington, Yorkshire).
1861 Census; Rock House, Skipton, Yorkshire, General Practitioner
MRCS - Member Royal College Surgeons. (1837)
LSA. Licentiate the Society of Apothecaries.
Surgeon, Medical Practitioner Linton, Skipton, Yorkshire
Wife; Mary Ann PRING (nee; SOMERVELL) (b. 31 Jan 1817 Grassington, Yorkshire – d. 1863 Skipton, Yorkshire) – Father; Francis PRING (bap. 27 Jan 1785 Taunton, Somerset), Mine Agent, Mold, Flintshire (1851).
Frederick Arthur PRING (b. 1860 Taunton, Somerset – d. 1944 Battle, Sussex)
LRCP - Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. (1885 London)
MRCS - Member Royal College Surgeons.(1884)
LSA - Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries. (1883 London)
Lieutenant Royal Army Medical Corps. 19th Aug.1915
Wife; Isobel PRING (nee; CROMPTON) (b. 1857 Winchcombe, Gloucestershire).
Father; Walter PRING (bap 22 Jun 1831 Pitminster, Somerset -d. 24 Dec 1910 Exeter, Devon), Brewer, Exeter, Devon (1871), Brewer & Maltster, Exeter, Devon (1881) Brewer & Magistrate, Exeter, Devon (1891), Brewer, Exeter, Devon (1901).
Horace Reginald PRING (bap. 15 Aug 1869 Exeter, Devon – d.1958 Brighton, Sussex).
MRCS - Member Royal College Surgeons (1894)
LRCP - Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (1894).
Horace Reginald PRING, Dental Surgeon, Clayton, Cuckfield, Sussex (1921) - Wife; Bertha PRING (nee; EADY) (b. 1870 Sudberry, Suffolk – Father; Walter PRING (bap. 22 Jun 1831 Pitminster, Somerset), Brewer & Maltster, Exeter. Devon (1881), Brewer & Magistrate, Exeter, Devon (1891), Brewer, Exeter, Devon (1901).
Jacob Cubitt PRING (b.1857 Caernarvon, Caernarvonshire – d. 1928 West Derby. Lancashire), Assistant Surgeon, Ffestiniog, Gwynedd (1881), Medical Assistant, Denlo, Pwlheli, Caernarvonshire (1891), Medical Dispenser, West Derby, Lancashire (1911), Dispenser. West Derby, Lancashire (1921) - Wife; Margaret Eleanor PRING (nee; ROWLANDS) (b. 10 Jun 1866 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire) - Father; Jacob Cubitt PRING (bap. 16 Jan 1819, Bangor, Caernarvonshire) Bank Manager, Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire (1851), Bank Manager, Ffestiniog, Merionethshire (1861) – Brother (1.); John Williams PRING (bap. 31 Jul 1844 Dolgellau, Merionethshire – d. 14 Aug 1876 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire), Unmarried.- Brother (2.): Peter Burnett PRING (b. 1851 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - d. 1883 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire).
James Hurly PRING MD (bap. 6 Sep 1817 Taunton, Somerset – d. 1889 Taunton, Somerset)
Physician, Edinburgh University
Archaeologist & Antiquarian, Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
Author; Captain Martin Pringe; The Last of the Elizabethan Seaman (1888) – A Memoir of Thomas Chard Dd. Suffragan Bishop and the Last Abbot of Ford Abney Dorsetshire.
- 1st Wife; Lousia PRING (nee; Hole) (bap. 21 Aug1825. Silverton, Devon – bur. 16 Nov 1861 Taunton, Somerset). - 2nd Wife; Julia PRING (nee DANBY) (bap. 11 Sep 1823 – d. 1867 Taunton, Somerset) – 3rd Wife; Lucy Harriet PRING (nee; DEACON) (b. 1831abt. London,. Middlesex - d. 1898 Chester, Cheshire).
Father; James PRING, (bap. 26 Jasn 1779 Sherborne, Dorset), Coal Merchant, Taunton, Somerset (1813), Brickmaker. of Honiton (1817), Coal Merchant, Taunton, Somerset (1851).
John PRING (bap. 27 Aug 1820 Wiveliscombe, Somerset – d. 6 Mar 1858 Bristol, Gloucestershire) Westbury upon Trym, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1851).
MD. London – Medical, General Practitioner.
Wife; Emma Edith PRING (nee; MELHUISH) (bap. 8 Oct 1815 Stockleigh Pomeroy, Devon) School Teacher, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1861) – Father; James PRING (b, 1796 before, Somerset).
John PRING (b.9 Oct 1820, Uffculme, Devon) Veterinary Surgeon Wiveliscombe, Wellington, Somerset (1851), Draper & Veterinary Surgeon, Wiveliscombe, Somerset (1861), Draper, Wiveliscombe, Somerset (1871) & (1881), Live Own Means, Wiveliscombe. Somerset (1891), Veterinary Surgeon Rtd., Wiveliscombe, Somerset (1901) – Wife; Lydia PRING (nee; BISHOP) (b. 1823abt. South Molton, Devon) – Father; Thomas PRING (bap. 17 Oct 1781 West Buckland, Somerset) Farmer, Silver St. House, 40acres Culmstock, Devon (1851) & (1861)
John PRING (bap.15 Jul 1836 Portishead, Somerset – d. 1909 St. Pancras, London) Veterinary Surgeon, St. Mary, Redcliff, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1861), Veterinary Surgeon, Bridgnorth, Shropshire (1881), Veterinary Surgeon, Faringdon, Gloucestershire (1891) Veterinary Surgeon, St. Pancras, London, (1901) – Brother; Edward Sidney PRING (b.23 Dec 1837 Bristol, Gloucestershire – d. 1906 Shifnal, Shropshire), Medical Student – Father; John PRING (b.1810abt. Bristol, Gloucestershire). Tavern Keeper, Temple Gate, Railway Hotel, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1851).
John Lacey PRING (b. 28 Oct 1920 Dover, Kent) Medical Student, Greenwich, London (1939) – Emigrated to Australia 1964 Perth, WA. Registered as a Doctor in Western Australia (10th Nov 1964).
MRCS – Member Royal College Surgeobs (England 1945)
LRCP – Licentiate Royal College Physicians (London 1945)
Wife; Louise Campbell PRING (nee; WATKINS) (b. 1920 Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland) – Father; John Norman PRING (b. 26 Apr 1884 Congleton, Cheshire) Research Chemist, Dover, Kent (1921), Research Chemist, Greewich, London (1939).
John Waldo PRING (bap. 11 Jun 1813 Bangor, Caernarvonshire – d. 1879 Waratah, Tasmania, Australia) Licentiate of the Apothecary Society, General Practitioner, Bangor, Caernarvonshire (1851).
Emigrated to Tasmania, Australia.
LSA - Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.
1851 Census; York Place, High St., Bangor, Caernarvonshire – Wife; Louisa PRING (nee; WYATT (b. 1824 Bolton, Lancashire) – Father; Joseph PRING (b.15 Jan 1776 Kensington, London), Professor of Music, Organist Composer, Bangor, Caernarvonshire (1841)
John Williams PRING (bap. 31 Jul 1844 Dolgellau, Merionethshire – d. 14 Aug 1876 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire), Unmarried.
MRCS - Member Royal College Surgeons.
LRCP - Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians.
Surgeon Apprentice, Ffestiniog, Merionethshire (1861), Assistant Surgeon, Aldershot, Hampshire (1871) - Father; Jacob Cubitt PRING (bap. 16 Jan 1819, Bangor, Caernarvonshire) Bank Manager, Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire (1851), Bank Manager, Ffestiniog, Merionethshire (1861) – Brother (1.); Jacob Cubitt PRING (b.1857 Caernarvon, Caernarvonshire – d. 1928 West Derby. Lancashire), Assistant Surgeon, Ffestiniog, Gwynedd (1881) – Brother (2.): Peter Burnett PRING (b. 1851 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - d. 1883 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire).
(Pastorino) George PRING (b. 24 Oct 1779 Wargrave, Berkshire – d. 14 Nov. 1824 Hammersmith, London)
Apprentice 1794 Registration, to Josh PITT Surgeon of Great Ealing, Middlesex.
Surgeon of Hammersmith.
Projector of the Hammersmith Suspension Bridge, Memorial; St Pauls Church, Hammersmith (see: PRINGs Coats of Arms, for description of this Coat of Arms). - National Archives: (IR Series 1. 36 f 60) - Father; George PRING (b. 1757before Berkshire – d. 2 Jan 1802 Hurley, Berkshire )
Peter Burnett PRING (b. 1851 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - d. 1883 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire)
LRCP- Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians
MRCs – Member of the Royal College of Surgeons
LM – Licentiate in Medicine
- Wife; Mary PRING (nee; EDGE) (b. 1856 Stirchley, Shropshire) - Father; Jacob Cubitt PRING (bap. 16 Jan 1919 Bangor., Caernarvonshire), Bank Manager, Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire (1851), Bank Manager, Ffestiniog, Merionethshire (1861) – Brother (1.): Jacob Cubitt PRING (b.1857 Caernarvon, Caernarvonshire – d. 1928 West Derby. Lancashire), Assistant Surgeon, Ffestiniog, Gwynedd (1881) – Brother (2.): John Williams PRING (bap. 31 Jul 1844 Dolgellau, Merionethshire – d. 14 Aug 1876 Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire), Unmarried.
Richard Ward PRING (b. 14 Aug 1826/28 – d. 10 Nov 1891 Ventnor Isle of Wight, Hampshire) -
LA (Dublin) Licentiate of Apothecaries (Dublin)
LSA (Ireland) – Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries (Ireland).
LAH (Ireland) – Licentiate of Apothecaries Hall (Ireland) (Medicine and Surgery)(1858).
Council, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
1st Wife; Eliza PRING (nee; GRATTAN) (b. 1826 Belfast Ireland– d.1888) – 2nd Wife; Adelaide Eugenia PRING (nee; STRONG) (b. 1845abt USA – d. 1920 Purley, Berkshire) – Father; Elijah PRING (b. 1800before Dublin, Ireland - d. Ireland) Owner, Bottle Factory, Dublin, Ireland (1858), Apothecary, commencing without a License, prosecuted (Oct 1923, Dublin, Ireland).
Source:
1. Cambridge Alumni Database (1200-1900), University of Cambridge
2. Alumni Oxonienses; Members of the University of Oxford (1500-1714) by Joseph Foster 4 Vols. Pub. James Parker, Strand,
London 1891.
3. Roll Royal College of Physicians of London Volumes 1 to 3 William Munk MD., The College. London.
4. Roll Royal College of Physicians, Volumes 4 to 11, subsequent Volumes by the Royal College.
5. Alumni Oxonienses 1500 to 1714, British History On-line.
6. Alumni Oxonienses (1715-1886) Volume 3 – PRINCE to PRYOR
7. Calendar of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 12th July 1866, London.