Joshua Lambert Vardy M.D. L.A.C. (1800 – 7 October 1870) was an orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy some time after 1845. He was formerly a Surgeon at the South Metropolitan Midwifery Institution and a member of the South London Medical Society. After converting to homeopathy Vardy served on the Medical Council of the London Homeopathic Hospital.

Joshua Lambert Vardy became a member of the British Homeopathic Society in 1851. He was a colleague of Hugh Cameron, John Chapman, Matthew James Chapman, Edward Charles Chepmell, Paul Francois Curie, William Vallancy Drury, John James Drysdale, Harris F Dunsford, Edward Hamilton, Richard Hughes, Joseph Kidd, Thomas Robinson Leadam, Victor Massol, Frederick Hervey Foster Quin, Henry Reynolds, John Rutherford Russell, Harmar Smith, Thomas Vernon Bell, David Wilson, Stephen Yeldham and many others.

Joshua Lambert Vardy was born in Warminster in Wiltshire, the son of Printer Joshua Lambert Vardy (1775 – 1834) and Mary Wilks (1777 – 1809). There, in 1829, Vardy senior was recorded as being insured for four properties, 9 and 10 Chapel Street, Chapman Street, and 1 and 2 Anthony Street.

Young Joshua Lambert Vardy studied medicine and surgery at St Thomas’ Hospital and in 1827 received his License from the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.

Vardy began practice in Blackfriars where, in 1830, he was insured as a chemist and druggist at 39 Great Surrey Street, Blackfriars Road. He was soon invited into partnership at 53 Stamford Street, Blackfriars Road in London, by Quaker and fellow surgeon, William Pollard (20 February 1794 – 9 January 1878). They remained partners until Pollard’s retirement, Vardy continuing the practice alone.

Across the road on Stamford Street was homeopathic physician Stephen Yeldham. In the mid-1840s, Vardy had one particular female patient he was unable to cure. He turned to Yeldham for assistance, who successfully treated the woman homeopathically. Vardy was impressed and, after experimenting further, became converted to homeopathy, embracing Hahnemann‘s system of medicine for the next quarter of a century.

In April 1825, Vardy married Ann Provis (1799 – 1875) in Warminster, St Denys, Wiltshire. They had seven children, including Dr. Joshua Lambert Vardy (22 September 1833 – 11 August 1912), an orthodox house surgeon at the Royal Portsmouth Hospital who resided at 74 Commercial Road, Portsmouth.

Joshua Lambert Vardy died at his home, 16 Stamford Street, Blackfriars Road, on 7 October 1870. His Obituary is in The Homeopathic Medical Directory of Great Britain and Ireland in 1871.

Of interest:

Joshua Lambert Vardy (1775 – 1834), father of  homeopath Joshua Lambert Vardy, was an ordained priest and missionary who sailed with John Hill on the second voyage of the Duff in 1798-9. He subsequently set up in Warminster, Wiltshire as a printer.

Joshua Lambert Vardy M.R.C.P. L.R.C.S. (22 September 1833 – 11 August 1912), son of Joshua Lambert Vardy, surgeon, 53, Stamford Street, was enrolled at St. Paul’s School in May 1849. He would also go on to pursue medicine, albeit as an orthodox surgeon at the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. He resided at 72 and 74 Commercial Road, Southsea.

Richard E. Vardy (1814 – 1883) of Warminster, elder brother of homeopath Joshua Lambert Vardy, was a bookseller and publisher. In 1850 he published a book on Warminster Common, containing an added essay on Medical Electricity. Richard Vardy was also the proprietor of short-lived newspaper, Warminster Miscellany and Local Advertiser.