James Hamilton (1749–27 October 1835) was a Scottish physician.

Biography

Hamilton was the son of Robert Hamilton, a professor of divinity at Edinburgh. He was born in Edinburgh in 1749, and studied medicine there and on the continent. Early on, he became a physician at the Royal Infirmary, George Heriot's Hospital, and other hospitals in Edinburgh, and had a large practice. He died in Edinburgh on 27 October 1835. For many years, he was a picturesque figure in the city, retaining very old-fashioned manners and dress; he is said to have been the last person who wore the three-cornered cocked hat. He was most noted for his work entitled 'Observations on the Utility and Administration of Purgative Medicines,' 1805; 8th edit. 1826. Numerous American editions were also published, and it was translated into Italian, German, and French. Hamilton was thoroughly old-fashioned in his treatment, believing in free blood-letting and profuse purging, and strong mercurial treatment for syphilis. He was very jocular, kind-hearted, and athletic. There are amusing accounts of him in the 'Lives' of Sir

Astley Cooper Sir Astley Paston Cooper, 1st Baronet (23 August 176812 February 1841) was a British surgeon and anatomist, who made contributions to otology, vascular surgery, the anatomy and pathology of the mammary glands and testicles, and the pathology ...

and Sir

Robert Christison Sir Robert Christison, 1st Baronet, (18 July 1797 – 27 January 1882) was a Scottish toxicologist and physician who served as president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (1838–40 and 1846–8) and as president of the British ...

, and John Kay's 'Edinburgh Portraits.' The works of three James Hamiltons were previously catalogued as by one man in the '

British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...

Catalogue:' (1) the above-mentioned, always known as James Hamilton, senior; (2) James Hamilton, junior, who lived next door to him in St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh; and (3) James Hamilton, M.D. (1740–1827), successively of Dunbar, Edinburgh, Leeds, and London, a friend of

John Wesley John Wesley ( ; 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a principal leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies ...

, who is depicted with him in a well-known print by Kay.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, James 1749 births 1835 deaths 18th-century Scottish medical doctors 19th-century Scottish medical doctors Health professionals from Edinburgh