Peter Miller Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Peter Miller Cunningham (1789–1864) was a Scottish naval surgeon and pioneer in Australia.
Cunningham, fifth son of John Cunningham, land steward and farmer (1743–1800), and brother of Thomas Mounsey Cunningham (1776–1834) and of Allan Cunningham (1784–1842), was born at Dalswinton, near Dumfries, in November 1789, and was named after that Peter Miller who is generally recognised as the first person who used steam in propelling boats.
He received his medical education at the University of Edinburgh
, and on 10 Dec. 1810 entered the Royal Navy
as an assistant-surgeon, and in that capacity saw service on the shores of Spain
, where the war was then raging. From August 1812 until promoted to the rank of surgeon (28 Jan. 1814) he was employed on board the Marlborough, 74, on the coast of North America. In 1816 he served in the Confiance, 32, on Lake Erie, where he became the close friend of the traveller, Hugh Clapperton
.
After 1817 he made four voyages to New South Wales
as surgeon-superintendent of convict ships, in which upwards of six hundred criminals were transported to that colony without the loss of a single life. The results of his observations during this period were embodied in his Two Years in New South Wales, 1827, 2 vols., which was favourably noticed in the Quarterly Review
for January 1828, pp. 1–32. To the profits arising from this book he added his early savings while in the Navy, and expended them in an attempt to open up a large tract of land in Australia, which he then fondly regarded as his adopted country. But the locality was perhaps badly chosen, the seasons were certainly unpropitious, and he soon abandoned the struggle, as far as his own personal superintendence was concerned.
His well-earned reputation at the admiralty, however, speedily procured him employment, and on 22 Oct. 1830 he was appointed to the Tyne, 28, served on the South American station until January 1834, and had opportunities of observing the effects of tropical climates on European constitutions. He joined the Asia, 84, in 1836, and, proceeding to the Mediterranean, was present at the blockade of Alexandria in 1840. He left the sea in May 1841, and was placed on the list of medical officers unfit for further service in 1850.
In addition to the work above mentioned he wrote two others: On the Motions of the Earth, and on the Conception, Growth, and Decay of Man and Causes of his Diseases as referable to Galvanic Action, 1834; and Hints for Australian Emigrants, with descriptions of the Water-raising Wheels in Egypt, 1841. He contributed an account of a visit to the Falkland Islands
to the Athenaeum
and was a frequent writer elsewhere. He was a man of remarkable powers of observation, greatly attached to his brother Allan, and very popular among his friends.
He died at Greenwich on 6 March 1864, aged 74.
Cunningham, fifth son of John Cunningham, land steward and farmer (1743–1800), and brother of Thomas Mounsey Cunningham (1776–1834) and of Allan Cunningham (1784–1842), was born at Dalswinton, near Dumfries, in November 1789, and was named after that Peter Miller who is generally recognised as the first person who used steam in propelling boats.
He received his medical education at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and on 10 Dec. 1810 entered the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as an assistant-surgeon, and in that capacity saw service on the shores of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where the war was then raging. From August 1812 until promoted to the rank of surgeon (28 Jan. 1814) he was employed on board the Marlborough, 74, on the coast of North America. In 1816 he served in the Confiance, 32, on Lake Erie, where he became the close friend of the traveller, Hugh Clapperton
Hugh Clapperton
Hugh Clapperton was a Scottish traveller and explorer of West and Central Africa.He was born in Annan, Dumfriesshire, where his father was a surgeon. He gained some knowledge of practical mathematics and navigation, and at thirteen was apprenticed on board a vessel which traded between Liverpool...
.
After 1817 he made four voyages to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
as surgeon-superintendent of convict ships, in which upwards of six hundred criminals were transported to that colony without the loss of a single life. The results of his observations during this period were embodied in his Two Years in New South Wales, 1827, 2 vols., which was favourably noticed in the Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
for January 1828, pp. 1–32. To the profits arising from this book he added his early savings while in the Navy, and expended them in an attempt to open up a large tract of land in Australia, which he then fondly regarded as his adopted country. But the locality was perhaps badly chosen, the seasons were certainly unpropitious, and he soon abandoned the struggle, as far as his own personal superintendence was concerned.
His well-earned reputation at the admiralty, however, speedily procured him employment, and on 22 Oct. 1830 he was appointed to the Tyne, 28, served on the South American station until January 1834, and had opportunities of observing the effects of tropical climates on European constitutions. He joined the Asia, 84, in 1836, and, proceeding to the Mediterranean, was present at the blockade of Alexandria in 1840. He left the sea in May 1841, and was placed on the list of medical officers unfit for further service in 1850.
In addition to the work above mentioned he wrote two others: On the Motions of the Earth, and on the Conception, Growth, and Decay of Man and Causes of his Diseases as referable to Galvanic Action, 1834; and Hints for Australian Emigrants, with descriptions of the Water-raising Wheels in Egypt, 1841. He contributed an account of a visit to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
to the Athenaeum
Athenaeum (magazine)
The Athenaeum was a literary magazine published in London from 1828 to 1921. It had a reputation for publishing the very best writers of the age....
and was a frequent writer elsewhere. He was a man of remarkable powers of observation, greatly attached to his brother Allan, and very popular among his friends.
He died at Greenwich on 6 March 1864, aged 74.