Thomas West (c.1667–1738)
Thomas West was the son of the clergyman Richard West of Creaton, Northants. He matriculated from Exeter College at the age of 16 on 11 March 1683/4. His younger brothers Richard and Edward followed him to Merton in March 1688/9 and December 1697 respectively and both entered the church.
West obtained his BA in 1687 and became a Fellow of Merton College in 1688, gaining his MA in 1691, his B.Med. in 1693, and his D.Med. in 1696.
At the time West's first wife Catherine died, he is already described as being of Covent Garden in London, but her body was brought back for burial in Merton on 19 December 1704.
He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1718, and served as its treasurer in 1721/2.
West died in Red Lion Square on 17 August 1738 and was buried in Merton College Chapel on 25 August.
Here
Near the Remains of his first Wife
CATHERINE Daughter of D. LYDALL
Who died Dec. ye 16 A.D. 1705
Lieth
The Body of THOMAS WEST, M.D.
Fellow of the College of Physicians,
and Formerly Fellow of this College,
Who departed this Life
The Seventeenth day of August
in the year of our Lord
1738
Aged Seventy Years.
Without a Pang translated strait to Heav'n,
And Scarcely feeling when the Stroke was giv'n,
As if well skill'd in every lenient Art
Thyself hadst smooth'd Destruction's painfull Dart,
Didst Thou discover where this transient Span
Was ended: where immortal Life began:
But soon the wondrous Change thou shalt perceive,
No longer call'd the Wretched to releive.
Thy Science useless, and thy Worth approv'd,
Shall tell thee that from Earth thou art remov'd.