John Savory

John Savory started his career by being apprenticed to his uncle’s partner Thomas Moore. The certificate of apprenticeship is still intact. It is dated 1817 and bound him for seven years during which period he was neither “to contract matrimony nor commit fornication“.

During his apprenticeship he studied for the medical profession, (including a period in Paris in 1819) and at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, SW London. He became a Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1825.

However, relinquishing any idea of practising, he joined his uncle, Thomas Field, in the business Savory & Moore. He lived at 220 Regent Street, where there was a branch of the firm, until his uncle retired in 1831. He then moved to 143 New Bond Street. He lived there in on some style, for the census return of 1851 showed that he, at the time, employed 10 servants, including a footman and a page.

Following his uncle, Thomas Field Savory’s death, he inherited the bulk of his estate and became a wealthy man. His London home was 22 Sussex Place and he also owned a country house, Burnham Priory, near Slough, and a cottage in Wotton-Under-Edge.

John Savory became one of the founder members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and was the President of the Society from 1844-1848.

He published and edited, for many years, a book called the ‘Savory Compendum of Modern Medicine’. It was quite well known in its day, running to to 10 editions from 1836-1878.

He also invented and patented the fluted and ribbed poison bottle. He took a great interest in church affairs (hence, no doubt, his nickname within the family of ‘The Padre’) and was a benefactor to many charities.

John married Martha Hames Oakey who was the daughter of James and Esher Oakey of Shurdington (3 miles north west of Cowley).

The announcement of their wedding described Martha as the ‘niece of John Hames Esq: of His Majesty’s Customs and Household’.

Martha had six sisters. One of them, Mary Oakey, married William Barker. William joined Savory and Moore in 1841 and was closely associated with John Savory e.g. in the invention of the ribbed poison bottle. He also Patented for discs made of gelatine or isinglass containing other medicinal chemicals which may be administered to patients as capsules. When John Savory retired in 1866, William Barker became a partner in Savory and Moore.

John and Martha had five children, three sons and two daughters. They were Thomas Hames; Charles Harley; Julia Sophia; Henry Browne; and Rosa Field (b.1841, d.1842).

John was baptised on 8 February 1801 and died on the 3rd October 1871 in Frant, East Sussex. His exact birthdate is not known, but it is believed his parents Richard and Sarah had him out of wedlock. His death certificate dated 3rd October 1871 has his age as 71, which implies he was born in 1800.