The son of Samuel Cartwright, FRS, dentist (1789-1864) (*Dict. Nat Biog.*). Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at the London Hospital, and, following his father, became a pioneer in the improvement of the dental profession in London. He was appointed Surgeon to the Dental Hospital, Lecturer on Dental Surgery and Pathology, and was twice President of the Odontological Society. He joined Sir John Tomes and others in prevailing upon the Council of the College to establish the Dental Diploma in 1858, and the curriculum adopted was confirmed by the Dental Act, 1879. Upon this Act King’s College appointed Cartwright, then Dental Surgeon to King’s College Hospital, to a specially founded Chair of Dental Surgery. He acted as Examiner on the Dental Board of the College 1865-1875. A prize was founded by the Association of Surgeons practising Dental Surgery to commemorate his services in improving the status of the dental profession. The prize, consisting of the Cartwright Medal in bronze and an honorarium of £85, has since been awarded quinquennially to the author of the best essay upon a subject relating to dental surgery. Cartwright’s many publications appeared in the *Odontological Society’s Transactions* and the *British Journal of Dental Science*. Cartwright was a keen musician, and a member of several musical societies. He had retired for some years when he died, of old age, at 32 Old Burlington Street [where he was born], his father’s house, on August 23rd, 1891. His wife had predeceased him some years.