Henry Atkins

Henry Atkins (1558–1635) was an English physician. Life Atkins was the son of Richard Atkins of Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire. Matriculating at Trinity College, Oxford, in 1574, he graduated there and afterwards proceeded M.D. at Nantes. In 1588, he became fellow of the College of Physicians of London, and in 1606 president. He was re-elected in 1607, 1608, 1616, 1617, 1624, and 1625. In 1597 Atkins sailed as physician to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex in the Islands Voyage, but was sea-sick, had to be put on shore, and resigned the appointment. His replacement was Thomas Moundeford. In 1604 Atkins was sent by James I to Scotland to bring back his son Charles. Prince Charles stayed at Dunfermline Palace for a year in the care of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline after his mother Anne of Denmark had gone to England. Atkins wrote to her from Dunfermline in July 1604 saying the Prince, who was slow to learn to walk, could now walk the length of the "great chamber" or "longest chamber" several times daily without the use of a stick. Atkins and Prince Charles stayed at Worksop Manor when they travelled from Scotland in August 1604. Atkins described four days of music, and young Duke of York's initiation into hunting, when deer were driven close to the house.