Richard Croft

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Sir Richard Croft is the English obstetrician of Princess Charlotte who became famous by his role in “the triple obstetrical tragedy” of 1817.

Croft had married a twin daughter of Dr.Thomas Denman, a preeminent obstetrician in London at the turn of the nineteenth century. His textbook on childbirth had been first published in 1788. Trained by Denman who died in 1815 Croft became a prominent physician.

[edit] Triple death

When Princess Charlotte conceived in February 1817, Croft was chosen to attend her. The Royal Physician was Matthew Baillie, his brother-in-law, but not direct involved in her obstetrical care. Following medical dogma Croft restricted her diet and bled her during the pregnancy. Her bedroom at Claremont was chosen as the labor and delivery room. Her membranes broke 42 weeks after her last period on November 3, 1817. The first stage of labor lasted 26 hours. At the beginning of the second stage of labor, Croft send for Dr. John Sims as a consultant who arrived 7 hours later. The second stage of labor lasted 24 hours. Forceps were not used as they had fallen in disfavor. A cesarean section at that time would have resulted in the death of Charlotte. Eventually Charlotte delivered a stillborn 9-pound male. Five hours later she died, presumably from concealed inner bleeding.

Although her husband and father send messages to thank Croft for his care and attention, Croft was distraught over the outcome. Three weeks later he shot himself. Near his body a copy of Shakespeare’s Love's Labour's Lost was found open with the passage (Act V, Scene II):” Fair Sir, God save you! Where is the Princess?”