This multi-disciplinary essay collection explores the controversial life and achievements of Sir John Hill (1714-1775), a prolific contributor to Georgian England's literature, medicine and science. By the time he died, he had been knighted by the Swedish monarch and become a household name among scientists and writers throughout Britain and Europe. In 1750s London he was a celebrity, but he was also widely vilified.

Hill, an important writer of urban space, also helped define London through his periodicals and fictions. As well as examining his significance and achievements, this...