Daniel John Cunningham M.D., D.C.L., LL. D. F.R.S., F.R.S.E. F.R.A.I. (15 April 1850 – 23 July 1909) was a Scottish physician, zoologist, and anatomist, famous for ''Cunningham's Text-book of Anatomy'' and ''Cunningham's Manual of Practical Anatomy''.

Biography

Cunningham was born in the manse at

Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has becom ...

, the son of the Very Rev John Cunningham (1819-1893) and of his wife Susan Porteous Murray. His father became Moderator of the General Assembly in 1886. Following education at

Crieff Academy Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...

he studied medicine at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 158 ...

, where he qualified as Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (M.B. C.M.) with first class honours in 1874 and attained his M.D. in 1876, receiving a Gold Medal for his thesis. From 1876 until 1882 he acted as a demonstrator for his professor at the university. After one year as Professor of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (in Dublin) he moved to the chair of Anatomy at

Trinity College, Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...

, which he held from 1883 to 1903. On the appointment of Sir William Turner to the post of Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Edinburgh he was invited to succeed him as Professor of Anatomy and he held that post from 1903 until his death. His ''Text-book of Anatomy'', first published in 1902, went through 15 editions under various editors: the first three editions were prepared under Cunningham's editorship. He was at various times president of the

Royal Zoological Society of Ireland Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

, secretary and vice-president of the

Royal Dublin Society The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) ( ga, Cumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economi ...

and president of the Anatomical Society (1893–95). Cunningham was also editor of the

Journal of Anatomy The ''Journal of Anatomy'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Wiley on behalf of the Anatomical Society. It covers all aspects of anatomy and morphology. The journal was first published in 1867 and was originally known as ...

between 1900 and 1907. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, the

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is a professional organisation of surgeons. The College has seven active faculties, covering a broad spectrum of surgical, dental, and other medical practices. Its main campus is located on ...

, the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

(1891) and the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

. In 1878 he was elected a fellow of the

. His proposers were Sir William Turner,

John Hutton Balfour John Hutton Balfour (15 September 1808 – 11 February 1884) was a Scottish botanist. Balfour became a Professor of Botany, first at the University of Glasgow in 1841, moving to the University of Edinburgh and also becoming the 7th Regius Keepe ...

Alexander Crum Brown Alexander Crum Brown FRSE FRS (26 March 1838 – 28 October 1922) was a Scottish organic chemist. Alexander Crum Brown Road in Edinburgh's King's Buildings complex is named after him. Early life and education Crum Brown was born at 4 Belle ...

, and James Bryce. He died unexpectedly at home, 18 Grosvenor Crescent in Edinburgh's West End, on 23 July 1909 and was buried with his wife, Elizabeth, and children near the eastern side of

Dean Cemetery The Dean Cemetery is a historically important Victorian cemetery north of the Dean Village, west of Edinburgh city centre, in Scotland. It lies between Queensferry Road and the Water of Leith, bounded on its east side by Dean Path and on ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, close to the Dean Gallery entrance. His position as professor of anatomy was filled by Arthur Robinson.

Family

In 1878, he married Elizabeth Cumming Browne, eldest daughter of Rev Andrew Browne, minister of the parish of

Beith Beith is a small town in the Garnock Valley, North Ayrshire, Scotland approximately south-west of Glasgow. The town is situated on the crest of a hill and was known originally as the "''Hill o' Beith''" (hill of the birches) after its ''Court ...

in Ayrshire, and had by her three sons and two daughters. His eldest son Lt Col John Cunningham MD

FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soc ...

(1882-1968) was a physician and bacteriologist in the

Indian Medical Service The Indian Medical Service (IMS) was a military medical service in British India, which also had some civilian functions. It served during the two World Wars, and remained in existence until the independence of India in 1947. Many of its officer ...

. His two younger sons were Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, and

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED On ...

Sir Alan Cunningham, both decorated veterans of World War II. Cunningham's daughter Elizabeth Cumming Cunningham married Dr Edwin Bramwell

(1873-1952), a prominent neurologist and son of

Byrom Bramwell Sir Byrom Bramwell FRSE Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, FRCPE Legum Doctor, LLD (18 December 1847 – 27 April 1931) was an eminent British physician and medical author. He was a general physician, but became known for his work in neur ...

Publications

*''Manual of Practical Anatomy'' *''Textbook of Anatomy'' *Report on the Anatomy of the Marsupials, H.M.S. Challenger Reports, Part XVI *The Lumbar Curve in Man & Apes: Cunningham Memoir No.2, (1886) Royal Irish Academy. *The Spinal Nervous System of the Porpoise & Dolphin (1876) J Anat Physiol.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Daniel John 1850 births 1909 deaths People from Crieff Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish anatomists Comparative anatomy Academics of the University of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Presidents of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 19th-century Scottish medical doctors 20th-century Scottish medical doctors Academics of Trinity College Dublin Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Journal of Anatomy editors