The ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

In the early 1800s, there was only one hospital for army men in the Cape, as well as a naval hospital in Simonstown. So, in order to set up the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, a doctor, Samuel Silverthorne Bailey approached Governor Lord Charles Somerset with a proposal in 1816. Lord Somerset could not promise funds, so Bailey built the hospital himself, and acquired land in Green Point, which was then in the outskirts of town. On 1 August 1818, the 'Hospital and Lunatic Asylum' was opened as a hospital for civilian burghers and slaves. Unfortunately, Bailey had to sell the hospital in 1821 at a loss, due to lack of funds, but remained its director. The hospital, which was subsequently demolished, was known as the 'Old' Somerset Hospital. Bailey went on to run the 'New' Somerset Hospital near the Waterfront until he retired in 1845, and practiced medicine in Wynberg until his death in 1864.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970) Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 2, p. 5

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). The ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010902

South African History Online (2011) 'The ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010902 (Accessed: 27 July 2026).

South African History Online, The ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010902, (accessed 27 July 2026).

"The ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010902. Accessed 27 July 2026.

South African History Online. "The ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010902.