John SINGLETON

SINGLETON, JOHN (b. Dublin, Ireland, 2 Jan 1808; d. Melbourne, Vic, c. 1892). Medical practitioner and philanthropist.

John Singleton spent his early years in Dublin where he matriculated at TCD before he was fifteen. He was articled to a licentiate apothecary in Kells, Co Meath for three years. While there, as a result of drinking spirits in excess, he became a convinced total abstainer, and formed Total Abstinence Societies in both Ireland and Victoria. On his return to Dublin, he attended medical lectures while placed with a medical practitioner. He graduated MD and went into practice.

He was converted in October 1827 and from then on combined an active evangelical personal ministry with his medical practice. He took up weekly prison visiting, following this practice for sixty years. He gave out tracts and scriptures, convinced that Christ alone could change men and help them overcome crime and intemperance. He was married in 1834 in Cork, Ireland and for 52 years his wife shared his work of prison visiting and helping the needy. They had ten children.

Encouraged by his brother in Kilmore, Victoria, on 18 Sept 1850 he sailed as surgeon on the Harpley to Australia. On the voyage he greatly influenced an old school friend the Rev Dr H P Fry (q.v.), rector of St George's, Hobart. 'Dr Fry came on board a strict ritualist ... but left the ship a devoted evangelical minister of Christ' and established the evangelical tradition at St George's. Arriving in Melbourne on 30 Jan 1851, sponsored by Bp Perry, he immediately took up visiting in Melbourne Gaol and later at Pentridge. Noting the death rate in Melbourne was twice that of London, he campaigned for improved sanitation and water supply. He was a member of the founding committee of the Melbourne City Mission. For several years he practised in country centres including Warnambool, Mt Gambier and Maryborough, where he founded a branch of the BFBS.

In 1867 he returned to Melbourne and in 1869 opened the Collingwood Free Medical Dispensary, assisted by several honorary physicians. Over the years he added a mission hall, a bookshop, a coffee shop and a gymnasium. With Dr Charles Smith he opened the Melbourne Children's Hospital. In 1869 he became the hon corresponding secretary of the Society for Promoting Morality, whose chairman was Dr Perry (q.v.). Through the society he formed a Temporary Home for Fallen Women, providing temporary residence, counselling and training, and assistance in obtaining employment for penitent prostitutes. He also opened a night shelter for women and later widows' cottages in the grounds. Men's shelters were erected elsewhere. The Prisoners Aid Society, a Men's Model Lodging House and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were also formed at his urging. He established the Little Bourke Street Mission Hall and after two years gave the use of it in the evenings to the Salvation Army.

Both in Dublin and in Australia Dr Singleton conducted Bible classes in his own home and elsewhere. He was always active in distributing Christian literature and scriptures and was a member of the Committee of the Victoria Branch of the BFBS. In all his medical and social work he did not hesitate to talk to his patients on spiritual matters, teaching that in Christ alone is forgiveness and healing. In his professional work he contributed papers on the treatment of Cholera (Dublin, 1832), Alcohol as a Medicine (Melbourne, 1875), the treatment of Phthisis (1875) and Fever (1885), and published Incidents in the Life of a Physician (Melbourne, 1891). He also was in favour of women doctors.

ALWYN WALTHER PRESCOTT