There are a number of documented cases of historical figures and distinguished members of society who had kidney stones. This condition is caused by nephrolithiasis, which are more commonly known as kidney stones, or urolithiasis, where the stone forms in the urinary system. These are crystal deposits that can accrete in the urinary system when certain chemical substances become concentrated in the urine. Among the symptoms associated with nephrolithiasis are intense colicky pain, nausea, fever, chills, and the reduction or blockage of urine flow. Historically, the condition of having a kidney or bladder stone was referred to as "the stone" or "the gravel".

In certain cases, kidney stone formation played a pivotal role in history. Most notably, some members of the royalty and military leaders became debilitated at important moments, such as Napoleon III of France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and Athenian commander Nicias in the disastrous Sicilian Expedition of 415-413 BC. Despite this condition, artists such as Arthur Sullivan and Michel de Montaigne managed to produce historically distinguished works; providing an example of perseverance in the face of severe and chronic pain. The medical advances of the twentieth century have allowed patients to survive the condition, whereas in the past it may have proven debilitating or fatal (as shown by the examples below).

Kidney stones can reach exceptional size. In December 2003, a kidney stone weighing 356 g (12.5 oz) was removed from the right kidney of Peter Baulman of Australia. At its widest point, the stone measured 11.86 cm (4.66 in). In 2017, a 2 kg (4.4 lb) stone spanning 20 cm was surgically removed from Abdul Abu Al Hajjar in Kensington, England. As of August 2006, the most kidney stones ever passed naturally was 5,704 by Canadian Donald Winfield. The largest number removed through surgery was 728, during a three-hour operation upon Mangilal Jain of India, on January 27, 2004.

Actors and media figures In 1954, movie actress Ava Gardner was hospitalized in Madrid with kidney stones. In her torment, she is said to have yelled curses that caused the Spanish nuns to blush.

During the shooting of the film Family Plot, Alfred Hitchcock underwent surgery for colitis and a kidney stone. He was also fitted with a pacemaker. Hollywood talent agent Lew Wasserman was suffering from a kidney stone during the 1970s. As he was about to embark on an oceanic voyage, he insisted that it be surgically removed despite the risk and the reluctance of his doctor. Early in the filming of Live and Let Die (1973), actor Roger Moore was hospitalized from a pre-existing kidney stone condition. During the shooting of the City Heat (1984), actor Burt Reynolds became debilitated from a kidney stone, and had to resort to medications to continue filming. He also suffered a broken jaw when struck by a metal chair and displayed inner ear problems. Commentator Bill O'Reilly dislikes doctors, and so for two years he avoided medical attention for a kidney stone. It was surgically removed in 2002 and he was back on the air within four hours. On October 19, 2005, while working on the set of Boston Legal, actor William Shatner was taken to the emergency room for lower back pain. He eventually passed a kidney stone, but recovered and soon returned to work. Shatner sold his kidney stone in 2006 for $75,000 to GoldenPalace.com. The money went to a housing charity, and a home was built for a family which had lost theirs in Hurricane Katrina. While writing his book A Year at the Movies, former Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast member Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) passed a kidney stone, an experience he documented. American comedian Jeff Foxworthy passed five kidney stones, an experience which he has described during his stand-up routine. English radio producer Karl Pilkington was diagnosed with kidney stones in late August 2006. Other actors and media figures who have suffered through a kidney stone include Tim Burton, Jamie Kennedy, Rob Schneider, Kiefer Sutherland, Michael McIntyre, Mike Vogel and Luis dela Torre.

Artists and musicians

In 1549, Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo was treated for kidney stones by anatomist Realdo Colombo. Michelangelo appears to have suffered for many years from recurrent uric acid stones and may have died from obstructive nephropathy. His condition may account for his artistic interest in kidneys. Five years after retiring because of ill health, in 1612 Italian composer Giovanni Gabrieli died from an attack of kidney stones. Arthur Sullivan, of the musical partnership Gilbert and Sullivan, began to suffer from kidney stones in 1872. This would affect him for the remainder of his life, although he would continue to write while suffering from pain. He underwent surgery in 1874 in an attempt to treat the condition. Crooner Bing Crosby suffered from recurring kidney stones from 1951 onward, according to biographer George Carpozi Jr. Among his many medical maladies, in 1964 composer Cole Porter was hospitalized for the removal of kidney stones. He died two days later, most likely bronchopneumonia in his chest. He was also found to have chronic nephrosclerosis, or degeneration of the kidneys. Opera singer Birgit Nilsson painfully passed a kidney stone following a concert in Göteborg, Sweden. Tony-award winning composer Charles Strouse became infected as a result of a kidney stone. He recovered after treatment with antibiotics and the removal of the stone. Chart singer Peter Andre was forced to postpone two shows at Plymouth Pavilions in 2010 because of a kidney stone. Other artists and musicians who have suffered from a kidney stone include Nick Drake, Billy Joel, Gene Simmons, and Adam Young.

Authors

The post-mortem examination of noted diarist Samuel Pepys revealed, "a nest of no less than seven stones" in his left kidney. These weighed a total of 4.5 ounces. When he was younger, Pepys had undergone bladder surgery, pre-anesthesia, for removal of a large stone. He carried this stone with him to try to persuade fellow sufferers to endure the painful surgery. Michel de Montaigne, the French Renaissance writer who popularized the essay, began to suffer from chronic kidney stones in 1578. His father had died from kidney stones. Ciro di Pers, an Italian Baroque poet and man of letters, began to suffer from chronic kidney stones in late life. Mary Ann Evans wrote under the male pen name of George Eliot. She had suffered from various health problems for all of her life, and starting in February 1874 she endured a series of kidney stone attacks that lasted until her death. While visiting Italy, the author Llewelyn Powys (who lived from 1884 to 1939) began coughing up blood because of his tuberculosis and also suffered from a kidney stone. After he returned home to Dorset, he passed the stone with excruciating pain. He had to take medication for the remainder of his life to avoid forming another stone. American author Jack London used morphine to alleviate the pain of kidney stones. He most likely died at the age of forty from kidney failure and possibly a toxic dose of pain reliever. At the end of her life in 1980, author Ethel Wilson was hospitalized and suffering from recurrent small strokes. The day before she died, she was in physical distress from passing a kidney stone. A doctor injected her with medication to ease the pain. Author Isaac Asimov suffered from kidney stones, and wrote about how his pain was treated with morphine, saying that he feared becoming addicted to morphine if he ever needed it again. During the 1980s, his problem with kidney stones developed into kidney disease, which resulted in multiple hospitalizations. In his book A Year at the Movies, Mystery Science Theater 3000 writer and performer Kevin Murphy describes his ordeal with a kidney stone: "Being gut-stabbed with a dirty spoon in a prison cafeteria is less painful." Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club, wrote about his experience with passing a kidney stone in his nonfiction book Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories. Washington Post columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Art Buchwald suffered from a kidney stone late in his life. During a book tour, best selling author David Sedaris started passing a kidney stone. He completed several lectures while on pain medication.

Nobility and royalty

Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, suffered from various physical maladies including kidney and bladder stones. From at least 1518, Frederick III, Elector of Saxony suffered from gout and kidney stones. James I of England suffered from several symptoms characteristic of kidney stones, including abdominal colic and passing red urine. Following his death in 1625, stones were found in his kidney. While he was alive, King Louis XIV of France frequently voided kidney stones but without suffering apparent pain. A small stone was found in the left kidney of his corpse. In 1722 the Russian ruler Peter the Great began to experience kidney problems. The symptoms grew worse during 1723 and by the following year it was diagnosed as the stone. He suffered from extreme pain in the loins and then tumors began to form on his thighs. Early in 1725 he died. Empress Anna of Russia was known to suffer from kidney stones, and in 1740 her condition became more acute. After becoming bedridden, she died later the same year. An autopsy showed that the stones resembled branching coral. After his death, British King George IV was found to have a bladder stone that had become encysted. A year before his death he had complained of a pain in his bladder. With his health deteriorating, in 1860 Lord Cochrane twice underwent surgery for kidney stones. He died during the second operation. King Leopold I of Belgium underwent a lithotrity in 1862 for the removal of a kidney stone. However, the operation was only partly successful and he underwent a second surgery in 1863. For the latter operation, Sir Henry Thompson was appointed surgeon-extraordinary to the King. Napoleon I of France became ill with a kidney stone during the Battle of Borodino, September 7, 1812. This condition may help explain his unoriginal tactics during the battle. Dom Pedro I of Brazil suffered from frequent kidney stone attacks. Napoleon III of France may have lost the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 in part because of a massive kidney stone. He died from kidney stone surgery in 1873. Māori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu was hospitalized for kidney surgery in 2005, a few weeks after the 40th anniversary of her coronation.

Politicians and military commanders

In the disastrous Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BC), the Athenian commander Nicias was afflicted with kidney stones during the entire period he was in charge. The English military and political leader Oliver Cromwell may have suffered from kidney stones during the 1650s. His doctor said that, "being much troubled with the stone, he used sometimes to swill down several sorts of liquor, and then stir his body by some violent motion ... that by such agitation he might disburden his bladder." In 1659, Myles Standish, who served as military officer of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony, became "sick of the stone" and died after suffering much "dolorous pain". Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, suffered from the stone, as did his brother Horace Walpole and his mother Catherine. John Hart, a member of the Continental Congress representing New Jersey and signer of the Declaration of Independence, died of kidney stones in 1779 after much suffering. British General James Wolfe suffered from "the gravel" prior to the Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War. Virginia Governor Patrick Henry complained in a letter written in 1799 that he was suffering from "the Gravel" which "rendered it impossible for me to ride out to Day."