Born at Rew, Malborough, South Devon on 11 June 1851, eighth child and fourth son of Richard Adams, yeoman farmer, and Mary Dorothy Fairweather his wife. His elder brother, James Adams, FRCS, was the third son in the family, and Josiah Oake Adams, FRCS, was his cousin. John Adams was educated at Dr Templeton's school in Exeter and entered St Bartholomew's Hospital on 1 October 1869. Here he acted as house surgeon to Dr James Andrew, was resident midwifery assistant under Dr Robert Greenhalgh and acted as a casualty physician for six months. He then settled in practice in Aldersgate Street and was appointed medical officer to the Royal General Dispensary in Bartholomew Close. He soon acquired a large general practice in the City, his patients ranging from junior clerks to Lord Mayors. He married Ellen Sparrow Worth (who died on 6 December 1923) on 23 September 1880, died on 27 January 1938, and was survived by two sons and five daughters. He was buried at Bigbury, Devon. His son, Francis Philip Adams MRCS 1931 of 54 Shepherd Market, London W1 died on 19 March 1942. Throughout his long life John Adams was greatly beloved for his kindness of heart, and respected for his sterling honesty and good sense. Living close to St Bartholomew's Hospital, there was rarely a day when he was not seen within its precincts. He was never elected to the permanent staff, but from 1904 when he was made a Governor he was continuously in touch with the administrative side of the hospital and served for some years as chairman of the Drugs and Appliances Committee. He was a loyal churchman and served as churchwarden of St Botolph's, Aldersgate Street, taking an active part in the formation of "The Postman's Park" which is situated upon the City Ditch. He acted as Master of the Tin Plate Company, was president of the Hunterian Society and was chairman of the City division of the British Medical Association in 1920. Having accepted a commission in the RAMC Territorial Force when it was formed in 1908, he served during the war as honorary surgeon to the Red Cross Hospital established in the Fishmongers Hall, with the rank of full colonel. He was for many years surgeon to the Hospital of the Sisters of the Poor in Paul Street, Finsbury, to St Margaret's Hospital, Kentish Town, to the Sheffield Street venereal disease hospital, and to the Thavies Inn centre for pregnant women with venereal disease and their new-born children. Here he did such valuable work in connexion with the preventive treatment of syphilis in new-born children that he was awarded a special centenary medal by the Hunterian Society. Publication: Ante-natal and post natal syphilis. *St Bart's Hosp Rep*. 1923, 56, 111.