Alexander Stuart (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Stuart FRS
FRCP
(1673–1742) was a British natural philosopher and physicist.
He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.
He graduated from Marischal College
in 1691 with an MA and became a ship's surgeon, serving on the London from 1701 to 1704 and on the Europe from 1704 to 1707. While at sea he kept records of his operations and sent specimens of new creatures to Hans Sloane
, with several reports on such animals being published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
.
After returning to land in 1708 he started a medical degree at Leiden University
, and he graduated on 22 June 1711. He served as a doctor for the British Army
for a bit but returned to England. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1714, and in 1719 he became the first doctor to practice at Westminster Hospital
, transferring to St George's Hospital
in 1733. In 1728 he became a physician-in-ordinary for Caroline of Brunswick
and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
the same year. He retired in 1736.
In 1738 he gave the first Croonian Lecture
of the Royal Society, and in 1740 he was awarded the Copley Medal
by the same institution. He delivered the Croonian Lecture again in 1740.
Despite the money he was earning as physician-in-ordinary he was heavily in debt when he died on 15 September 1742.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
FRCP
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(1673–1742) was a British natural philosopher and physicist.
He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.
He graduated from Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
in 1691 with an MA and became a ship's surgeon, serving on the London from 1701 to 1704 and on the Europe from 1704 to 1707. While at sea he kept records of his operations and sent specimens of new creatures to Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet, PRS was an Ulster-Scot physician and collector, notable for bequeathing his collection to the British nation which became the foundation of the British Museum...
, with several reports on such animals being published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society of London. It was established in 1665, making it the first journal in the world exclusively devoted to science, and it has remained in continuous publication ever since, making it the world's...
.
After returning to land in 1708 he started a medical degree at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
, and he graduated on 22 June 1711. He served as a doctor for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
for a bit but returned to England. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1714, and in 1719 he became the first doctor to practice at Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
, transferring to St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
Founded in 1733, St George’s Hospital is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. It shares its main hospital site in Tooting, England with the St George's, University of London which trains NHS staff and carries out advanced medical research....
in 1733. In 1728 he became a physician-in-ordinary for Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
the same year. He retired in 1736.
In 1738 he gave the first Croonian Lecture
Croonian Lecture
The Croonian Lectures are prestigious lectureships given at the invitation of the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians.Among the papers of William Croone at his death in 1684, was a plan to endow one lectureship at both the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians...
of the Royal Society, and in 1740 he was awarded the Copley Medal
Copley Medal
The Copley Medal is an award given by the Royal Society of London for "outstanding achievements in research in any branch of science, and alternates between the physical sciences and the biological sciences"...
by the same institution. He delivered the Croonian Lecture again in 1740.
Despite the money he was earning as physician-in-ordinary he was heavily in debt when he died on 15 September 1742.