Born the son of a brewer and later made a baronet by his patient, Queen Victoria, Sir James Paget is one of Great Yarmouth's most famous sons.
Today a blue plaque marking the site where he was born was unveiled on South Quay. The occasion kick-started a fortnight of events celebrating the bicentenary of Paget's birth.
Speaking before the Mayor of Yarmouth, Councillor John Burroughs, unveiled the plaque, retired consultant surgeon Hugh Sturzaker paid tribute to Paget and legacy he left behind.
'Sir James was dedicated to his work and had great compassion for his patients,' said Mr Sturzaker, a governor at the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, author of a new book on Paget and organiser of the bicentenary events.
'He emphasised the importance of cleanliness on the wards and treating patients with care.
'He introduced the subject of science into the art of medicine and, I think, one of the greatest things about him was his motto 'work itself is a pleasure'.'
Paget's memorable motto now features on the blue plaque installed at 100 South Quay. It has been installed on the site of Paget's family which was demolished in 1941 after it was damaged during the second world war.
Paget's name, however, lives on - in Paget Row that runs behind South Quay and the Gorleston hospital named in his honour, as well as several conditions he discovered during his medical career.
Paget was born at 57 South Quay into a prosperous family. He was one of 18 children, only eight of whom survived to adulthood.
His father, Samuel, was a successful shipping merchant and brewer who supplied the Roya Navy with food and drink.
Educated in Yarmouth, young Paget planned to join the Navy but at 16 became an apprentice to a local surgeon.
He trained at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London where he went on to become one of the country's most influential surgeons, often referred to as the father of British pathology.
He was a respected author and teacher as well as physician to Queen Victoria for 41 years.
In later life, Paget continued to visit Yarmouth - he had supported his family after they fell on harder times, and in 1888 opened a new hospital in his hometown.
He died in London in 1899, two weeks before his 86th birthday and his funeral was held at Westminster Abbey presided by one of his sons, by then Bishop of Oxford.
Events to celebrate his life and links to Norfolk will include a Paget Conference at the Burrage Centre at the JPH this Saturday; a dinner at Great Yarmouth Town Hall where guests include 92-year-old Sir Julian Paget, fourth baronet; a civic service at Yarmouth Minster led by the Bishop of Norwich this Sunday; and free exhibitions at both the Minster and the Burrage Centre.
For details on the conference or dinner this Saturday, January 11, email hugh@sturzaker.plus.com or contact Mr Sturzaker, c/o Department of Surgery, James Paget University Hospital, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston NR31 6LA.
Mr Sturzaker's new book, Sir James Paget: Surgeon Extraordinary and His Legacies, is on sale from bookshops and Amazon as a hardback (13.99) and paperback (£7.99).
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