Who was Mary Toft?
Q: Who was Mary Toft?
A: Mary Toft (née Denyer) was an English woman from Godalming, Surrey who became famous in 1726 for tricking doctors into believing that she had given birth to rabbits.
Q: What happened when local surgeon John Howard was called to examine her?
A: When local surgeon John Howard was called to examine her, he delivered several animal parts and told other important doctors about the event.
Q: Who did King George I of Great Britain send to investigate the situation?
A: King George I of Great Britain sent surgeon Cyriacus Ahlers to investigate the situation.
Q: How did the public react when they found out that the doctors had been fooled by Mary Toft?
A: The public reacted with panic in the medical profession and several important surgeons' careers were ruined. Pamphlets were published which made fun of the doctors, and William Hogarth was very critical of the profession.
Q: What happened after Mary Toft confessed to hoaxing everyone?
A: After Mary Toft confessed to hoaxing everyone, she was sent to prison as a fraud but eventually released without charge and returned home.
Q: What interest did Mary Toft have prior to claiming she gave birth to rabbits?
A: Prior to claiming she gave birth to rabbits, Mary Toft had developed a strong interest in a rabbit she had seen while working.
