Rutty, John, 1698-1775

John Rutty (1697–1775) was a Dublin Quaker physician, naturalist, and author. He was born on December 25, 1698 (N.S.) in Melksham, Wiltshire, England, to a father also named John Rutty. He pursued his medical education at the University of Leyden, where he graduated M.D. in 1723 and read a thesis 'De Diarrhœa’. In 1724 Rutty settled in Dublin, Ireland, as a physician, and practiced medicine there throughout his life.

Rutty was active in the Dublin Quaker community and served as an Elder in his meeting. He lived simply and often gave his services to the poor. On 6 April 1775 John Wesley records that he 'visited that venerable man Dr. Rutty.'

In 1753 he began to keep a spiritual diary and continued it until December 1774, leaving directions in his will for its publication. The chief ill-doings of which he accuses himself are too great a love for the studies of the materia medica and meteorology, irritability, and excessive enjoyment of food. From 1739 to 1771, Rutty published many tracts and books, including "History of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers" (1751), "A methodical synopsis of the Mineral Waters of Ireland" (1757), and "An Essay towards the Natural History of the County of Dublin" (1772).

Rutty died on 27 April 1775, and was buried in a Quaker burial-ground on St Stephen's Green. His spiritual diary was published posthumously.