James Law (13 February 1838 – 1921) was a Scottish veterinary surgeon who became the first veterinary professor at an American university, teaching biology, agriculture and veterinary medicine at

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...

from 1868.

Early life and education

Law was born in Edinburgh on 13 February 1838. In 1854, at the age of 16, James Law enrolled at the Edinburgh Veterinary College (which later became the

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, commonly referred to as the Dick Vet, is the veterinary school of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and part of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine the head of which is Moira Why ...

) and graduated with honours in 1857. He was awarded his diploma from the

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom, established in 1844 by royal charter. It is responsible for monitoring the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the ...

(RCVS) in 1861, and became a member of the RCVS.

Career

was founded in 1865, and in 1868 its President,

Andrew Dickson White Andrew Dickson White (November 7, 1832 – November 4, 1918) was an American historian and educator who cofounded Cornell University and served as its first president for nearly two decades. He was known for expanding the scope of college curricu ...

, visited Europe to recruit faculty staff. He had been instructed by

Ezra Cornell Ezra Cornell (; January 11, 1807 – December 9, 1874) was an American businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He was the founder of Western Union and a co-founder of Cornell University. He also served as President of the New York Agricul ...

to find a "horse doctor", and on the recommendation of Edinburgh Veterinary College's Dr. John Gamgee, he met James Law. Dr Law moved to the United States, and started teaching students in October 1868. Law was elected president of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1906.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Law, James 1838 births 1921 deaths American veterinarians Male veterinarians Cornell University faculty British veterinarians Alumni of the University of Edinburgh