The Institute takes its name from Sir William Blizard, the founder of the London Hospital Medical College in 1785.

Sir William Blizard (1743-1835) was born at Barn Elms in Surrey in 1743, and was the fourth child of William Blizard, an auctioneer. He received little school education, and after apprenticeship to a surgeon at Mortlake came to study at the London Hospital, also attending the lectures of Pott at St. Bartholomew's Hospital ( Hunterian Oration ,1815). In 1780 he was appointed surgeon to the London Hospital, and in 1785, in conjunction with Dr. Maclaurin, founded the medical school there.

The opening was celebrated by him in an ode, and on most of the important occasions of his life Blizard expressed himself in verse, which, had he been longer contemporary with Pope, would have certainly secured him a place in the 'Dunciad'. He lectured in the medical school on anatomy, physiology and surgery. Abernethy attended his earlier lectures, and speaks of them with respect.

As a hospital surgeon Blizard was famous for scrupulous attention to his duties in the wards, and he gave much time to the improvement of the London Hospital. He was often laughed at for the importance which he attached to learned diction and ceremonial observance ( Lancet , 1824, iii. 19). The College of Surgeons had a house in Cock Lane, where the bodies of criminals just executed at Newgate were delivered to be anatomised. Sir William Blizard, when President of the College of Surgeons, attended at this house in full court dress to receive the bodies from the hangman; and the contrast between the president's elaborate costume and formal manner and the surly shabbiness of the executioner is described by an eyewitness (Sir R. Owen) as having made the ghastly scene almost ludicrous..... 

His practice was considerable, and he used for many years to attend regularly at Batson's Coffee House in Cornhill at a certain hour to await consultations, being probably the last survivor of this method of practice. He was elected FRS in 1787 and was knighted in 1803. He continued to operate until he was 84 and lived to the age of 93.

John Abernethy, who attended his lectures at the London Hospital Medical School and who later went on to found St Bartholomew’s Medical School, was warm in his praises. In his opening lecture as Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in 1814, Abernethy says of Sir William Blizard:

He displayed to us the beau ideal of the medical character. I cannot readily tell you how splendid and brilliant he made it appear; and then he cautioned us never to tarnish its lustre by any disingenuous conduct, by anything that wore even the semblence of dishonour. 'Let your search after truth [he would say] be eager and constant. Be wary of admitting propositions as facts before you have submitted them to the strictest examination. If after this you believe them to be true, never disregard or forget one of them. Should you perceive truths to be important, make them the motives of action, let them serve as springs to your conduct.'