History of Bedlam, ’The Asylum Reformer Par Excellence.’4 Two Years After Qualifying He Became a Licentiate of the College, and the Derek Doyle Sir Alexander Morison

Sir Alexander Morison (1779–1866)

Sir Alexander Morison specialised in leaving behind his second wife. He mental and cerebral illness and bequeathed his property would be recognised today as a ‘Larchgrove’, and land in Newhaven forensic psychiatrist. He was born in to the College, who then sold it to Bailie Fyfe’s Close, in Anchorfield, create a lectureship in his name as near Edinburgh in 1779. Like so well as fund prizes for long-serving many Fellows and past presidents of psychiatric nurses. Several of his the College, he attended Edinburgh’s papers, drawings and diaries are held Royal High School, before spending in the College archives as well as five years at the University of references to the Dadd portrait. Edinburgh. His successful MD, De Hydrocephalo Phrenitico (1799) Perhaps the greatest compliment reflected the interest in cerebral and paid to him and one that would have mental illness that he would develop given him much pleasure was that in throughout his life. the History of Bedlam, ’the asylum reformer par excellence.’4 Two years after qualifying he became a licentiate of the College, and the Derek Doyle Sir Alexander Morison. Portrait by Sir following year, a Fellow. He John Watson Gordon RA PRSA, RCPE Obituaries Editor, RCPE apparently did not enjoy much Collection. success practising in Edinburgh and Further Reading in 1808 he moved to London, to psychiatry and forensic psychiatry: becoming a licentiate of the London Outlines of Lectures on Mental Diseases 1 Moore N. Morison, Sir Alexander (1779– College. He decided to specialise in (1826), Cases of Mental Disease with 1866). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University mental illness, but establishing Practical Observations on the Medical Press; 2004. himself again proved difficult. His Treatment (1828) and The Physiognomy 2 Craig WS. History of the Royal College of first appointment, in 1810, was as of Mental Diseases (1840). This last Physicians of Edinburgh. Oxford: Blackwell Inspecting Physician of Lunatic book was particularly fascinating as Scientific Publications; 1976. Asylums in Surrey. In 1835 he it contained illustrations of some of 3 Allderidge P. The late Richard Dadd 1817– 1866. London: Tate Gallery; 1974. became physician to the Bethlehem the ‘lunatics’ under his care, including 4 Allridge P. A brief history of Bethlam Hospital Hospital, and three years later was Jonathon Martin who had attempted 1247–1997. A pictorial record. London: appointed personal physician to to burn down York Minster in 1829. Phillimore & Co Ltd; 1997. Princess Charlotte and, later, to her husband Prince Leopold. In that The most famous portrait of same year (the year Queen Victoria Morison was done by a patient of succeeded to the throne) he his. Richard Dadd, a famous artist was knighted. and portrait painter created the artwork based on sketches sent to He became President of the Royal him by Morison’s daughter. Dadd College of Physicians of Edinburgh was admitted to Morison’s care while working in London, serving after being convicted of murdering from 1827–29. He only became a his father, whom he believed to be Fellow of the London College in the devil. The portrait was in the 1841. He was eager to return to possession of the College for many Edinburgh, preferably to a Chair in years before it was sold to the Mental Illnesses but no post was Scottish National Portrait Gallery. available or was created for him. Nevertheless he returned to his Morison and his first wife had 16 home city and gave highly popular children, the first born and ‘unofficial’ courses of lectures. Some christened on board the ship Royal history of these were included in his books, Albert off Cape Town. He died at probably his greatest contribution Balerno Hill House, Currie in 1866,

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