Robert Howard Hutton (1840–1887),

bonesetter Traditional bone-setting is a type of a traditional medicine, folk medicine in which practitioners are engaged in joint manipulation. Before the advent of chiropractors, osteopaths, and physical therapists, bone-setters were the main providers o ...

, was born at

Soulby Soulby is a village and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority of Cumbria, England. The parish had a population of 186 in 2001, increasing slightly to 187 at the 2011 Census. The village has a village green. Famous people ...

, near

Kirkby Stephen Kirkby Stephen () is a market town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It lies on the A685 and is surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, about from the nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith. The River Eden rises away in the pea ...

Westmorland Westmorland (, formerly also spelt ''Westmoreland''R. Wilkinson The British Isles, Sheet The British IslesVision of Britain/ref>) is an area of North West England which was Historic counties of England, historically a county. People of the area ...

, on 26 July 1840. He was the son of Robert Hutton. He was a member of a family of farmers who for two hundred years had resided in the north of England. The family were bonesetters for the benefit of their neighbours. Robert's uncle, Richard Hutton, was the first of the family to make bonesetting his profession. He set up in practice in London at Wyndham Place, Crawford Street, London, and died at Gilling Lodge,

Watford Watford () is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a smal ...

, on 6 January 1871, aged 70. Among the well-authenticated cases of cures by the elder Hutton were those of the Hon.

Spencer Ponsonby Sir Spencer Cecil Brabazon Ponsonby-Fane, (''né'' Ponsonby; 14 March 1824 – 1 December 1915) was an English diplomat, civil servant, courtier, and cricketer. Life and career He was born in 1824 in Mayfair, the sixth son of John Ponsonby ...

on 27 June 1865, and of George Moore, the

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

, in March 1869. The younger Hutton was from 1863 to 1869 at

Milnthorpe Milnthorpe is a village, civil parish, and former market town in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. It is south of Kendal. Historic counties of England, Historically in the county of Westmorland and on the A6 road (England), A6, the v ...

in Westmoreland, where he farmed land and set bones. About 1869 he came to London, and resided with his uncle Richard. He then set up for himself first at 74

Gloucester Place Gloucester Place is a street in Marylebone in Central London. Located in the City of Westminster, it runs north from Portman Square across the Marylebone Road eventually merging into Park Road. It is parallel to Baker Street to the east and form ...

Portman Square Portman Square is a garden square in Marylebone, central London, surrounded by townhouses. It was specifically for private housing let on long leases having a ground rent by the Portman Estate, which owns the private communal gardens. It mar ...

, and afterwards at 36 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square. He soon obtained a name and a position. He owed his reputation to his mechanical tact and acute observation of the symptoms of dislocations. His general method of procedure was to poultice and oil the limb for a week, and then by a sudden twist or wrench he often effected an immediate cure. Hutton's extensive practice brought him a large fortune, but his tastes were expensive. He was devoted to all field-sports, and was well known as a huntsman at

Melton Mowbray Melton Mowbray () is a market town in the Borough of Melton, Melton district in Leicestershire, England, north-east of Leicester and south-east of Nottingham. It lies on the River Eye, Leicestershire, River Eye, known below Melton as the Rive ...

. He often set animals broken limbs. In 1875 Miss Constance Innes, daughter of Charles Leslie, was thrown from her horse and broke her arm. After many months, having, a permanently stiff arm, she went to Hutton. He restored it and on 26 July 1876 she became his wife. On 16 July 1887, at 36 Queen Anne Street, London, a servant gave him some

laudanum Laudanum is a tincture of opium containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight (the equivalent of 1% morphine). Laudanum is prepared by dissolving extracts from the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum'') in alcohol (ethanol). Reddish-br ...

instead of a black draught. He died soon afterwards at

University College Hospital University College Hospital (UCH) is a teaching hospital in the Fitzrovia area of the London Borough of Camden, England. The hospital, which was founded as the North London Hospital in 1834, is closely associated with University College Lo ...

. A verdict of death from misadventure was returned at the inquest. He left one child, Gladys Hutton.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutton, Robert Howard 1840 births 1887 deaths People from Kirkby Stephen People from Westmorland