Birkbeck, George (1776-1841), was a British physician and educator. In 1823, he became founder and first president of Birkbeck College (then the London Mechanics’ Institution) and, in 1826, a founder and councilor of University College, both in the University of London. Birkbeck was born in Settle, North Yorkshire, England, on Jan. 10, 1776. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University. He became professor of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institute, Glasgow, in 1799, and began giving free lectures to working craftworkers. By 1823, the class had developed into the Glasgow Mechanics’ Institute. Birkbeck died on Dec. 1, 1841.
