the eleventh of thirteen children of matthew mead (1630–1699), an independent minister, richard was born at stepney, london. he studied at utrecht for three years under jg graevius. having decided to follow the medical profession, he then went to leiden and attended the lectures of paul hermann and archibald pitcairne. in 1695 he graduated in philosophy and physic at padua, and in 1696 he returned to london, entering at once on a successful practice.