History 89 40:89 First Lines of Edinburgh Edinburgh 118 Doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2010

history 89 40:89 First lines of Edinburgh Edinburgh 118 doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2010. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2010; © 2010 Royal College of of Physicians Edinburgh When the Chair of the Institutes of Institutes the of Chair the When Cullen Medicine was became vacant, the on 1773, in and it to appointed was he Gregory, John of death Practice the of Chair the to elected of Medicine. In 1773 Cullen became President of the RCPE at having a time when, recognised that an appropriate building with a hall for meetings and a library for the ever-increasing number of books was urgently plans being were studied needed, Cullen and had funding the sought. pleasure of the laying foundation stone of the new Hall Physicians’ in little probably George Street, thinking that within a few years it would be found inadequate for its purpose and too expensive to Cullen had Interestingly, maintain. College the of member a been never Council becoming before President. Much of his Presidency was taken up with ensuring the highest standards of medical training and raising the status of In the College. these he much endeavours owed to who had to his old partner Hunter, all not time that at that him remind were degrees medical Scottish Cullen alsorecognised in England. the producing in role a major played 1774 edition of the and had the pharmacopoeia, pleasure of seeing his own book, through going the practice of , physic many editions and being translated German and Italian. into French, His influence was felt and appreciated American The Edinburgh. beyond far Fellows who to were thedevelop Philadelphia College of Medicine as much owed did to Benjaminhim, Franklin and Benjamin Rush. work university his continued Cullen a year died He 79. of age the until later and was buried at Kirknewton. Derek Doyle JRCPE Obituaries Editor,

Portrait of William Cullen attributed Portrait of This of copy William Cochrane. to a painting by Alan Ramsay Alan was a Ramsay painting by presented to the RCPE by Cullen’s great grand-daughter. highest standards of knowledge and and knowledge of standards highest care that they planned that each in years alternate in study should medical different schools of their and London, to went Hunter choice. becoming a world- remained there, and surgeon and anatomist famous the owner of his own medical school, at London in 26 than less no of one Cullen that left time. Hamilton in his where Glasgow, in work to 1744 were versatility and brilliance Soon he was appointedrecognised. practice and theory the on lecturer of medicine and within six months but one not this to added was there three more subjects – botany, In materia medica and chemistry. of Professor appointed was he 1751 Medicine at Glasgow University. RCPE the joined he later, years Four him invited University Edinburgh and to be joint of Professor Chemistry succeeding Plummer, Andrew with Plummer when he died a year later, of Professor sole Cullen making Chemistry In and those Medicine. the days of Professor Chemistry taught in the wards of the Royal acquired soon Cullen and Infirmary, a as national well as international an reputation as a clinical teacher.

Notable Notable Fellows The College will be celebrating the the celebrating be will College The birthWilliam Cullen’s tercentenary of with a special exhibition this year. exaggerate to possible scarcely is It 18th-century in importance Cullen’s living as medicine, he did in what has Scottish the as known be to come was he Intellectually, Enlightenment. he a Physically, giant among giants. was small and unassuming. factor and a of lawyer son The (estate manager) to the ofDuke Cullen was born Hamilton, in a to went and Lanarkshire, Hamilton, before school grammar local was He College. Glasgow attending then to apprenticed a a Mr Nisbet, that as Lowly surgeon-apothecary. seen have must Cullen was, position many patients with what we today and medical as describe would by treated being conditions surgical others bled, being some master; his minor having surgery without of dying others yet and anaesthesia childbirth and malnutrition, infection, have must experience This trauma. stood him in aged good stead when, he became a 19, surgeon on a trading ship plying between London Indies. West and the Scotland to returned Cullen 1731 In a few a as doctor practised and miles Had from his hebirthplace. not inherited a small legacy about spent have might he later years two the rest of He his used life there. to Edinburgh to come to money the winter three through medicine study Some fellow students andsessions. medical a student started Cullen which was later granted a society, Royal Charter by King George III and in 1779 became the Royal already was Cullen Society. Medical making a name for himself. to returned he qualifying On partnership a started and Hamilton as become to destined man a with famous and influential as himself, of measure a was It Hunter. William the to commitment mutual their William William Cullen (1710–90)