Simon Baudichon, known as Simon Baldichius, was a 16th century French physician, originally from the diocese of Le Mans, professor at the Collège royal from 1567 to 1577. He died in 1584.
Bachelor on 12 March 1554[1] he obtained his licence from the Faculty of Medicine of Paris on 28 March 1556, under the chairmanship of Arthur Rioust, Doctor Regent in the Faculty of Medicine, with a thesis entitled: An ex suppressis hæmorroïdibus glabrities ?[2] He was admitted as a doctor the same year.[3]
He was considered one of the most skilful practitioners of his time.[2]
In 1568, Charles IX, "always full of benevolence towards his Royal College", created a second chair of medicine in favour of Simon Baudichon who became a royal reader in medicine.[4]
However, having converted to Calvinism, Simon Baudichon was summoned on 30 June 1568 before the King's Attorney General to be heard with Pierre de la Ramée and other professors[5] On 8 October 1570, following the treaty of the Peace of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the University obtained letters patent restricting the right to teach there to Catholics only. Jacques Charpentier, dean of the faculty of medicine, had Simon Baudichon and five other Protestant doctor-regents excluded.
Baudichon and his colleagues were reinstated from Charles IX himself; on 17 May 1571, they obtained new letters patent from him rehabilitating them in all their rights. "The Faculty of Medicine had to reinstate them but dispensed them from lecturing".[1]
Baudichon remained a teacher at the Royal College until 1577.[3]