 In 1727 the Governors of Barts had decided that there was a requirement for some surgeons to be specialists, and Freke was appointed to deal with diseases of the eye, becoming the first ophthalmic surgeon.He was a surgeon at Barts from 1729 to 1755 and was a Governor of the hospital from 1736 to 1756.He trained Edward Nourse who in turn trained Percival Pott.