The "occupier" of a hospital

[londonscorpion]

Joseph Diamond died on 30th July 1874 at St Bartholemews Hospital, St Sepulchre, City of London. He was a messenger and died of "general decay". The death was certified. The informant was a  Mark Morris, occupier, St Bartholemews Hospital.

I was under the impression that the term "occupier" signified the owner, or legal tenant, of a property. So what is the "occupier" of a hospital?

[AMBLY]

The 1881 Census:
St Sepulchre  District  - St Bartholomews Hospital
RG11 :  Piece: 374- Folio 124- Pg2
Head: Mark MORRIS unm, 62, Steward of the Hospital, b Stoke Dameral, Devon

On Page 1 of the Census are:
   1) Head: a Barrister at Law & Clerk at St Barts Hosp with his wife, 7 children, a governess, and 2 servants (cook and housemaid).
   2) Head: a Clerk in Holy Orders & Vicar at St Barts Hosp with a wife and 3 young children, 3 servants (cook, nurse and housemaid, and a visitor .
   
On Page 2 of the Census are:
   1) Head: Mark Morris, aforesaid and he has a Housekeeper.
   2) Head: a Matron (nurse) Superintendant of Nursery at St Barts and she has a domestic servant.
   
Followed by pages of House Physicians, Surgeons and Nurses, Servants &  various staff and clerks at St Barts, some with families.

In 1871 he was in the same place :  Head: Mark MORRIS is 52, unmarried, Steward St Barts.

Have a read of this - it will give you an idea of what his duties/responsibilities were:
Steward's Office of St Bartholomew's Hospital
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/40325faa-b1f1-430b-93e2-e9098f867aa8

Cheers
AMBLY

[stanmapstone]

Only relatives and certain other individuals are legally qualified to become the 'informant' i.e. to register a death. This depends on where the death occurred.
If the death occurred inside a house or public building such as a hospital, the following people may register the death:
A relative
Someone who was present at the death
The occupier of the house or an official from the public building
The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

Stan

[londonscorpion]

Ambly,
I must admit I would never have thought of going down that route. Brilliant research.

Richard