Sir Charles Nourse (1715/16–1789)
Charles Nourse or Nurse was born in 1715 and baptised at St Giles’ Church on 26 January 1715/16). He was the ninth child of the Oxford surgeon Edward Nourse and Elizabeth Towersey of Oxford (1680–1740), who were married at Whitchurch on 27 August 1700.
Charles was apprenticed to his elder brother Edward Nourse junior at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.
His father Edward Nourse died in August 1838. Nourse returned to Oxford, probably to take over his practice, and in order to be allowed to work in the city was matriculated by the University of Oxford as a “Chirurgus” (surgeon) on 4 May 1739.
On 10 October 1744 part of the Mitre (oddly described as being in St Martin’s parish) was said to be “now in the occupation of Charles Nourse, surgeon” and leased to John Ledwell; and in 1753 Nourse paid the rent directly.
On 22 June 1761 Nourse’s brother Edward Nourse junior was buried at St Giles’ Church.
Charles Nourse was appointed one of the original surgeons of the Radcliffe Infirmary in 1770. He resigned in 1780, and became a Life Governor.
Nourse’s wife Elizabeth died in 1772 and was buried at St Giles’ Church on 17 October. She was described as being of St Michael’s parish.
After the death of his brother John Nourse in 1780, Charles inherited his bookshop at 138 The Strand, but it was managed by Francis Wingrave.
Charles Nourse was listed as an Oxford surgeon in Bailey’s Western & Midland Directory for 1783.
Charles Nourse was knighted when the Prince Regent visited Oxford on 15 August 1786, and was granted the freedom of the City of Oxford on 20 October 1786.
Sir Charles Nourse died on 19 April 1789 at the age of 73 and was buried at St Giles’s Church nine days later.