William Henry Robertson (15 September 1810 – 15 July 1897) was an English

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and a leading figure behind the development of

Buxton Buxton is a spa town in the Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level. Dr William Henry Robertson

Biography

He was born in London and graduated in 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 15 ...

in 1830. After practising as a doctor for a short time at Chesterfield, he settled permanently in

Buxton Buxton is a spa town in the Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot and swollen joint, caused by deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. Pain typically comes on rapidly, reaching maximal intens ...

, rheumatism,

sciatica Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Onset is often sudden following activities like heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. The pain is often described ...

, etc. His ''Guide To The Use Of The Buxton Waters'' ran to 24 editions. Robertson Clock Tower on Devonshire Dome

He was appointed as an honorary physician to the Buxton Bath Charity in 1836 alongside Sir Charles Scudamore. From 1865 he became the chairman of trustees and board of management of the Devonshire Hospital and Buxton Bath Charity. He was elected as a Fellow of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

in 1872. In 1881, the Buxton Bath Charity trustees (under his chairmanship) persuaded William Cavendish (7th Duke of Devonshire) to give them the use of the whole Devonshire stables building in exchange for providing new stables elsewhere in the town. The clock tower of the

Devonshire Dome The Devonshire Dome building (previously known as the Devonshire Royal Hospital) is a Grade II* listed 18th-century former stable block in Buxton, Derbyshire. It was built by John Carr of York and extended by architect Robert Rippon Duke, w ...

(by Robert Rippon Duke) was named in his honour.

Life in Buxton

He lived and practised at No. 6 The Square from 1861 until his death in 1897. He was chairman of the Buxton Improvements Company and of the trustees of Buxton College. He was also churchwarden at St John The Baptist Church for 30 years. He qualified as a magistrate in 1867 and served on the bench in Buxton for 30 years. Robertson Road in Buxton was named after him.

Selected publications

''Buxton and its Waters''
(1838)
''The Nature and Treatment of Gout''
(1845)
''A Guide to the Use of the Buxton Waters''
(1847)
''A Hand-Book of the Peak of Derbyshire''
(1886)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, William 1810 births 1897 deaths 19th-century English medical doctors Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians Gout researchers People from Buxton Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Medical School