Chamberlen

Family of male midwives and physicians of Huguenot descent. The obstetric forceps used by the Chamberlens, and kept a closely guarded secret by them, were probably invented by Peter Chamberlen I. The family's ‘secret instrument’ was used by the Chamberlens for many years, enabling them to deliver more women more effectively than anyone before them. When Peter Chamberlen III retired he went to live at Woodham Mortimer Hall, near Maldon, Essex, England. After his death his widow hid a box beneath a trap-door in the attic, and it remained there until 1813, when it was discovered and found to contain the secret three sets of obstetric forceps, among other midwifery instruments. These are now in the possession of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

William Chamberlen (c. 1540–96) fled from France to England with his family in 1569. Peter Chamberlen I (1560–1631), eldest son of William, was physician to James I and his wife. Peter Chamberlen II (1572–1626), fifth and last child of William, fell foul of the Royal College of Physicians for practising medicine without a licence and for not confining himself to midwifery. Peter Chamberlen III (1601–83), son of Peter II, went to Cambridge and Padua universities, gaining his MD status from the Italian institution in 1619. He succeeded his uncle, Peter I, as court physician and delivered Charles II in 1630. He attempted to organize the female midwives into a company with himself as their president; for this he was reprimanded by the Royal College (he was a fellow of the College in 1628, but was dismissed from his fellowship in 1649). A very successful obstetrician, he returned to his court appointment on the accession of Charles II. Hugh Chamberlen (d. 1700), eldest son of Peter III, succeeded his father at court in 1673. He again used the ‘secret instrument’ with great success, and attempted to sell it to François Mauriceau, the French obstetrician, for 10,000 livres. He attended Mary, queen to James II, at the birth of the Old Pretender, and Princess (later Queen) Anne. He advocated a health insurance scheme which was not adopted.