Robert Thin PRCPE (1861–1941) was a 20th-century Scottish physician who served as President of the

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that sets the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by Royal charter ...

from 1931 to 1933, and was the first GP in this role.

Life

He was born at 54 South Bridge in Edinburgh in 1861 the youngest (and seventh) son of Catherine Traquair and her husband,

James Thin James Thin was a Scottish bookseller, stationer and publishing company. It was, until 2002, the principal academic bookshop in Edinburgh, with its main premises opposite Old College, University of Edinburgh on South Bridge. It also had branch ...

, a bookseller. The family moved to a villa at 7 Rillbank Terrace in the Grange in his youth, as his father's company grew. He was educated at the Royal High School then took a general degree 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 15 ...

graduating with an MA in 1883, allowing him to then study medicine and graduating with an

MB ChB Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery ( la, Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae; abbreviated most commonly MBBS), is the primary medical degree awarded by medical schools in countries that follow the tradition of the United King ...

in 1887. Following graduation he became house surgeon to Professor John Chiene. He was then House Physician to Dr John Wylie at the

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, or RIE, often (but incorrectly) known as the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest v ...

on Lauriston Place before going to the Sick Children's Hospital, Edinburgh. He then became a general practitioner. In 1910 he was living at 25 Abercromby Place in

Edinburgh's New Town The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Stree ...

. He lived his final years at 6 Albany Street. In 1927 Thin was elected a member of the

Aesculapian Club The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh is one of the oldest medical dining clubs in the world. It was founded in April 1773 by Dr. Andrew Duncan. Membership of the Club is limited to 11 Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh ...

. He died in Edinburgh on September 8, 1941.

Family

He married Mary Glover Wright in 1894 and together they had three children, 2 daughters and a son. He was grandfather to Dr Robert Nicol Traquair Thin.

Artistic Recognition

His portrait by

Henry Wright Kerr Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

is held by the

References

1861 births 1941 deaths Medical doctors from Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish medical doctors Presidents of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh {{Scotland-med-bio-stub Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh