William Vivian (1727–1801)
William Vivian or Vivyan was born in Cornwall on 19 November 1727 and baptised at Little Petherick on 5 December. He was the son of the cleric William Vivian and his wife Jane.
Vivian was matriculated at the University of Oxford from Corpus Christi College on 12 June 1742 at the age of 14. He obtained his BA in 1746 and his MA on 27 February 1749/50.
Vivian qualified for his B.Med. in 1757 and his D.Med. in 1761.
On 13 September 1770 Vivian was appointed one of the first four physicians of the Radcliffe Infirmary, a post he held until 1794.
In 1772 he was also appointed Regius Professor of Medicine, and remained in this post until his death in 1801.
He does not appear to have married.
The Will of “William Vivian, Doctor of Physic, Regius Professor of Physic of University of Oxford” (date of probate 27 July 1801) was deposited at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury: ref PROB 11/1361.