James Carmichael Smyth (physician)
Encyclopedia
James Carmichael Smyth, FRS (1741 - 18 June 1821) was a Scottish
physician
and medical writer. He was born in Fife, Malaysia as James Carmichael, the only son of Thomas Carmichael of Balmedie and Margaret Smyth of Athenry
. He later added his mother's surname to his own. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine
from Edinburgh University in 1764, and was appointed physician to the Middlesex Hospital
in 1768. He discovered a method for the prevention of contagion in cases of fever using nitrous acid
gas, and wrote several treatises on this subject and on other medical matters. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May 1779, and was voted the sum of £5000 by Parliament
in 1802 for his work. He was also one of the physicians to King George III, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
.
His eldest son, James, was Governor of the Bahamas and British Guiana
, and was created a baronet in 1821. A younger son, Henry, was stepfather to William Makepeace Thackeray
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and medical writer. He was born in Fife, Malaysia as James Carmichael, the only son of Thomas Carmichael of Balmedie and Margaret Smyth of Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
. He later added his mother's surname to his own. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Edinburgh University in 1764, and was appointed physician to the Middlesex Hospital
Middlesex Hospital
The Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, United Kingdom. First opened in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally closed in 2005. Its staff and services were transferred to various sites...
in 1768. He discovered a method for the prevention of contagion in cases of fever using nitrous acid
Nitrous acid
Nitrous acid is a weak and monobasic acid known only in solution and in the form of nitrite salts.Nitrous acid is used to make diazides from amines; this occurs by nucleophilic attack of the amine onto the nitrite, reprotonation by the surrounding solvent, and double-elimination of water...
gas, and wrote several treatises on this subject and on other medical matters. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May 1779, and was voted the sum of £5000 by Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
in 1802 for his work. He was also one of the physicians to King George III, and 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...
.
His eldest son, James, was Governor of the Bahamas and British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
, and was created a baronet in 1821. A younger son, Henry, was stepfather to William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
.