The Faculty of Homeopathy: Celebrating 175 Years of Excellence in Homeopathic Practice

Abstract

Early Beginnings in London On 10th April 1844, the inaugural meeting took place of what was then called the 'British Homoeopathic Society' (BHS). This meeting was held in the residence of Dr Frederick Hervey Foster Quin in Arlington Street, Piccadilly, London, with several notable doctors in attendance, including Dr Constantine Hering, who was on a visit to the United Kingdom at the time. The date chosen was the birthday of Dr Samuel Hahnemann-the first one that followed his death the previous year on 2nd July 1843. Dr Quin took the position of first President of the organisation, a role in which he continued until his death in 1878. The BHS continued for 100 years and was renamed as 'The Faculty of Homeopathy' in 1944. The organisation was incorporated by an Act of the UK Parliament in 1950. Since its founding, there have been 175 years of homeopathic practice, many well-known personalities, some high points and low points, and many patients whose lives have been turned around as a result of homeopathic treatment. The formation of the BHS/Faculty laid the groundwork for the establishment of the UK's homeopathic hospitals shortly afterwards. The London Homoeopathic Hospital was established in Golden Square, Soho, in 1849, moving to its present location in Great Ormond Street in 1859. By permission of King George VI, the hospital became known as the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital (RLHH) in 1947. Although the hospital and the BHS/Faculty have always been separate institutions, their history has been closely intertwined. The work of Quin and the establishment of the BHS/Faculty was the foundation upon which the entire UK homeopathic tradition developed and subsequently spread to many other parts of the world.