Reverend William Boyle Coghlan M.D. M.R.C.S. M.A. (29 October 1829 – 8 March 1895) was an Irish-born clergyman and homeopathic physician who spent most of his medical career in private practice in Manchester. He became a member of the British Homeopathic Society in 1867.
In September 1875, Coghlan attended the British Homeopathic Congress, held at the Palatine Hotel in Manchester. Fellow Manchester-area homeopaths who also attended included Charles Harrison Blackley, Thomas Rayner, Edward Perkins, Henry Kirke White Russen, Henry Bertram, John Bower Morehouse, John Augustus Howden, and homeopathic chemist Robert Hardy.
William Boyle Coghlan was born Boyle William Coghlan in Cork in 1829, the eldest son of William Coghlan (c. 1800 – 1874) of Firmount, County Cork, and grandson of allopathic physician Boyle Coghlan M.D. (1748 – 1821) of Cork.
Coghlan was educated at Blackrock School, in Cork. He was awarded his B.A. in 1852 and M.A. in 1853 from Queen’s College, Cork, where he was the First Scholar, and was the Gold Medallist of his year at Trinity College, Dublin.
After a very successful career as a student he was ordained by the late Bishop of Hereford to the curacy of Chirbury Parish Church, Shropshire, and later was chaplain to Lord Murray Stewart, Calley, Kircudbright.
In 1853, Coghlan was made Deacon, and in 1854 Presbyter, by Renn Hampden, Bishop of Hereford. From 1853 to 1857, Coghlan served as Canon of Chirbury parish, Shropshire.
In July 1858, Coghlan married Helena Forbes (c. 1822 – 1884), eldest daughter of John Forbes of Marrington Hall, Salop. They had two children, Helena Annie Coghlan (1859 – 1930) and Willoughby Gordon Forbes Coghlan (1862 – 1873).
Coghlan became chaplain to Horatio Granville Murray-Stewart (1834 – 1904) in 1857. However, during this appointment Coghlan lost the use of his voice. He successfully petitioned John Bird Sumner, Archbishhop of Canterbury, and Renn Hampden, Bishop of Hereford, to be allowed to retrain as a medical man.
In 1864, following studies at his alma mater, Queens College, and professional training at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, Coghlan was admitted as a member of the Royal College of Physicians.
Four years later, in 1868 Coghlan qualified as M.D. from Queen’s University, Ireland. He subsequently set up in Manchester, where he took over the practice of homeopathic physician Charles Douglas Fergusson Phillips, brother of noted Manchester homeopath Edward Phillips.
In his later years Coghlan partially regained his voice and was able to resume his first vocation, combining ministry with medicine.
[He] was frequently heard in the various pulpits of his diocese. In Manchester Cathedral he has pleaded on behalf of the local hospitals, and in various parish churches and hamlets he advocated their cause, and also the needs of the voluntary schools and mission societies. He was a popular preacher and successful medical practitioner.
Coghlan’s only son died in 1873, followed by his wife Helena in 1884. William Boyle Coghlan died at his home, 24 York Place, Chorlton-in-Medlock, Lancashire, on 8 March 1895, aged 66. He was interred in his old parish churchyard at Chirbury.
My Second Great Grand Uncle. He was born Boyle William Coghlan on the 29th of October 1829. He changed his name some years later but I don’t have a date. He was initially educated with his brothers in Blackrock School, in Cork.
Thank you very much for this information Gerald. We’ve added it to the biography. Your second great grand uncle was certainly an indefatigable character, given the adversity he faced throughout his life. We haven’t yet managed to discover when, or why, he embraced homeopathy. Do let us know if you have any insights.