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History 89 40:89 First Lines of Edinburgh Edinburgh 118 Doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2010 J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2010; 40:89 Notable Fellows doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2010.118 © 2010 Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh William Cullen (1710–90) The College will be celebrating the When the Chair of the Institutes of tercentenary of William Cullen’s birth Medicine became vacant, Cullen was with a special exhibition this year. appointed to it and in 1773, on the It is scarcely possible to exaggerate death of John Gregory, he was Cullen’s importance in 18th-century elected to the Chair of the Practice medicine, living as he did in what has of Medicine. come to be known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Intellectually, he was In 1773 Cullen became President of a giant among giants. Physically, he the RCPE at a time when, having was small and unassuming. recognised that an appropriate building with a hall for meetings The son of a lawyer and factor and a library for the ever-increasing (estate manager) to the Duke of number of books was urgently Hamilton, Cullen was born in needed, plans were being studied Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and went to a and funding sought. Cullen had the local grammar school before pleasure of laying the foundation attending Glasgow College. He was Portrait of William Cullen attributed stone of the new Physicians’ Hall in then apprenticed to a Mr Nisbet, a to William Cochrane. This copy of George Street, probably little surgeon-apothecary. Lowly as that a painting by Alan Ramsay was thinking that within a few years it position was, Cullen must have seen presented to the RCPE by Cullen’s would be found inadequate for its many patients with what today we great grand-daughter. purpose and too expensive to would describe as medical and maintain. Interestingly, Cullen had surgical conditions being treated by highest standards of knowledge and never been a member of the College his master; some being bled, others care that they planned that each Council before becoming President. having minor surgery without should study in alternate years in anaesthesia and yet others dying of different medical schools of their Much of his Presidency was taken infection, malnutrition, childbirth and choice. Hunter went to London, and up with ensuring the highest trauma. This experience must have remained there, becoming a world- standards of medical training and stood him in good stead when, aged famous anatomist and surgeon and raising the status of the College. In 19, he became a surgeon on a the owner of his own medical school, these endeavours he owed much to trading ship plying between London one of no less than 26 in London at his old partner Hunter, who had to and the West Indies. that time. Cullen left Hamilton in remind him that at that time not all 1744 to work in Glasgow, where his Scottish medical degrees were In 1731 Cullen returned to Scotland brilliance and versatility were recognised in England. Cullen also and practised as a doctor a few recognised. Soon he was appointed played a major role in producing the miles from his birthplace. Had he lecturer on the theory and practice 1774 edition of the Edinburgh not inherited a small legacy about of medicine and within six months pharmacopoeia, and had the pleasure two years later he might have spent there was added to this not one but of seeing his own book, First lines of the rest of his life there. He used three more subjects – botany, the practice of physic, going through the money to come to Edinburgh to materia medica and chemistry. In many editions and being translated study medicine through three winter 1751 he was appointed Professor of into French, German and Italian. sessions. Some fellow students and Medicine at Glasgow University. Cullen started a student medical His influence was felt and appreciated society, which was later granted a Four years later, he joined the RCPE far beyond Edinburgh. The American Royal Charter by King George III and Edinburgh University invited him Fellows who were to develop the and in 1779 became the Royal to be joint Professor of Chemistry Philadelphia College of Medicine HISTORY Medical Society. Cullen was already with Andrew Plummer, succeeding owed much to him, as did Benjamin making a name for himself. Plummer when he died a year later, Franklin and Benjamin Rush. making Cullen sole Professor of On qualifying he returned to Chemistry and Medicine. In those Cullen continued his university work Hamilton and started a partnership days the Professor of Chemistry until the age of 79. He died a year with a man destined to become as taught in the wards of the Royal later and was buried at Kirknewton. famous and influential as himself, Infirmary, and Cullen soon acquired William Hunter. It was a measure of an international as well as a national Derek Doyle their mutual commitment to the reputation as a clinical teacher. Obituaries Editor, JRCPE 89.
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