12. Doctor Sir William Gull deserves a better reputation than being Jack the Ripper
Dr. Sir William Gull was a distinguished physician and scientist, who over his career developed several insights into diseases and treatments. It was he who coined the term “anorexia nervosa” for the syndrome of that name. He also developed new means of diagnosis for several disorders, including Bright’s Disease. In 1871 Dr. Gull treated the Prince of Wales during a bout with typhoid fever. The Prince recovered. Made a Baronet by a grateful Queen Victoria, Gull became a Physician in Ordinary to the Queen and Royal Family. As such he was a frequent guest in the royal palaces and homes, and well-known to all of the extended family. He was also an early and ardent supporter of women’s careers in medicine, which some regarded at the time as radical in the extreme.
As early as 1895, reports in some US newspapers speculated that Dr. Gull knew the identity of Jack the Ripper. The speculation included the theory the killer was one of the doctor’s patients. By 1970 the theory had evolved to identify Dr. Gull as the killer, hired by highly placed socialites to assassinate blackmailers. Variations of the theory place Gull in the service of the Royal Family in this quest. Another variation includes Freemasons, police officials, and highly ranked politicians, as all part of the plot. Though a popular theory, there is little hard evidence to support Dr. Gull as Jack the Ripper, and much which exonerates him. Nonetheless, the theory smacks of conspiracy and scandal, which ensures it will remain a popular one among those who enjoy a salacious tale.