Frederik Ludvig Bang

Frederik Ludvig Bang (5 January 1747 - 26 December 1820) was a Danish medical doctor. He succeeded Johan Christian Fabricius as chief physician at Frederick's Royal Hospital ub 1775. He was the father of medical doctor Ole Bang, stepfather of bishop Jacob Peter Mynster and uncle of N.F.S. Grundtvig and Henrik Steffens. Early life and education Bang was born at Egebjergg Parish at Nykøbing Sjælland, Holbæk County, the son of Niels Christian Bang (1697–1760) and Ulrikke Eleonore Schwane (1726–92). His father was manager of the royal estates in Odsherred.His mother was after the father's death married to his successor Jacob Hansen (1728–91). Bang matriculated from Herlufsholm School in 1761. He lived with his brother Oluf Lundt Bang, who was Attorney General and 16 years his senior, after the father's death. Bang earned his Master of Medicine degree in 1767. He resided at Valkendorfs Kollegium from 1765 to 1768. In 1770, with the help of the Fincke's travel stipend and support from his brother, he was able to undertake a two-year trip abroad with stays in Berlin, Strasbourg and Paris. Shortly after returning home, on 24 February 1773,. he defended his dissertation on the medical use of vitriolic acid, which he had prepared abroad. Career In 1774 he was employed as assistant physician (reservelæge) by the old chief physician Johan Christian Fabricius (1705–75), who needed help in his work at Frederick's Royal Hospital, and upon his death on 18 May 1775, he became the medical department's new chief physician. In this position, which he held for 25 years, he contributed greatly to practical medical science. On 29 May 1782 he also became an extraordinary professor at the University of Copenhagen and thus became the first senior physician to act as a teacher in his capacity as a university professor. Thereby, a more systematic clinical teaching, "teaching at the bedside", was introduced. In 1786 he became a member of the Collegium Medicum. In 1795, he also became a member of the board of Fredercik's hospital, and the Midwifery Commission. In 1803, he became a member of the Sundhedskollegiet. In 1806 he was elected as the university's chancellor.