Sir William Newbigging FRSE

FRCSEd 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 o ...

FRGS The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

(25 April 1773''Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950'' – 23 October 1852) was a Scottish surgeon who served as President of 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 o ...

from 1814 to 1816. He was a keen amateur geographer.

Life

He was born in

Lanark Lanark (; gd, Lannraig ; sco, Lanrik) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. In 2016, the town had a population of 9 ...

in 1773 to Robert Newbigging and Jean Brownlee. 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 15 ...

and was apprenticed to Dr Forrest Dewar at Hunters Square, just off the Royal Mile, around 1790. He was elected a Fellow of the

in 1799 and served as their President in 1814. He was elected a member of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh in 1815 and served as President in 1823 and 1838. Hewas elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1824, his proposer was

Robert Jameson Robert Jameson Robert Jameson FRS FRSE (11 July 1774 – 19 April 1854) was a Scottish naturalist and mineralogist. As Regius Professor of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh for fifty years, developing his predecessor John ...

. In 1833 he 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 was knighted by

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

in 1838. He lived with his wife and family at 29 Heriot Row, in a large Georgian townhouse in the Edinburgh's New Town. He died aged 79 on 2 October 1852 at 29 Heriot Row, Edinburgh, and is buried in

Greyfriars Kirkyard Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 16th century, and a num ...

in central Edinburgh in the western extension close to the grave of his colleague Dr John Gordon.

Family

He married Lilias Stewart on 8 August 1801 at Corstorphine, Midlothian, Scotland, She died on 26 August 1832 in Edinburgh. Their many children included

Patrick Newbigging Patrick Small Keir Newbigging FRSE FRSSA FRCSE (1813–1864) was a Scottish surgeon and general practitioner. He was President of the Royal Medical Society and of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts. Together with his father, Sir William Newbigg ...

, John Steuart Newbigging and Dr George Stewart Newbigging.

Artistic Recognition

He was painted by Sir

John Watson Gordon Sir John Watson Gordon (1788 – 1 June 1864) was a Scottish portrait painter and president of the Royal Scottish Academy. Life and work Gordon was born John Watson in Edinburgh, the eldest son of Captain Watson, R.A., a cadet of the family ...

in 1838. The painting hangs in the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The painting was engraved by George Baird Shaw for multiple reproduction.

References

1773 births 1852 deaths Scottish surgeons People from Lanark Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Knights Bachelor Presidents of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Burials at Greyfriars Kirkyard {{Scotland-med-bio-stub