Robert Ferguson (1799-1865)
Encyclopedia
Robert Ferguson M.D. was an Indian-born Scottish physician.
of Glen Islay, Perthshire
, and of the Indian civil service, and grand-nephew of Adam Ferguson
, the historian, he was born in India. He went to school at Croydon
under Alexander Crombie
, author of the Gymnasium, and began to study medicine as the pupil of one of his relatives, a practitioner in Soho, and in attendance at the lectures of the Great Windmill Street
school of anatomy. After an interval of general study at Heidelberg
, he joined the medical classes at Edinburgh and graduated M.D. in 1823.
Through family connections he became intimate with the circle of Sir Walter Scott
, and on proceeding to London brought with him an introduction from Lockhart to Mr. Murray of Albemarle Street
, who introduced him to literary circles in the metropolis. After travelling abroad for a time as medical attendant, he took the post of resident medical officer at the Marylebone Infirmary, where he learned from Dr. Hooper ‘many of those strange resources and prescriptions on which, to the surprise of many of his contemporaries, he was wont to rely with entire confidence in some of the greatest emergencies of medical practice’. With the support of Robert Gooch
he entered on special obstetric practice, was appointed physician to the Westminster Lying-in Hospital, and professor of obstetrics at the newly founded King's College
in 1831. In 1827 he had been active in founding the London Medical Gazette as an organ of conservative opinion in medical politics and of academical views in medical science. Along with Watson he attended Scott in 1831 when he passed through London in broken health on his way to Naples, and again in 1832 on his way back.
He became a fellow of the College of Physicians in 1837, and afterwards councillor and censor. In 1840 he was appointed physician-accoucheur to the queen, in which capacity he attended, along with Sir Charles Locock, at the birth of all her majesty's children.
About 1857 he gradually withdrew from his extensive obstetric practice, and became a general medical consultant. He died at his cottage at Winkfield
, Berkshire, on 25 June 1865.
he wrote ten articles from 1829 to 1854, most of them medical, and one or two of a philosopho-religious kind. His first publication, dated in 1825 from Baker Street
, was a letter to Sir Henry Halford
proposing a combination of the old inoculation of small-pox with vaccination.
His professional writings belong to the earlier period of his practice: Puerperal Fever 1839; Diseases of the Uterus and Ovaria in Tweedie's Library of Medicine; and an edition of Gooch's papers on the Diseases of Women, with concise introductory essay, for the New Sydenham Society, 1859.
Life
Ferguson was the son of Robert FergusonRobert Ferguson
Robert Ferguson was a Scottish religious minister, conspirator and political pamphleteer, known as "the Plotter".He was a son of William Ferguson Robert Ferguson (c. 1637–1714) was a Scottish religious minister, conspirator and political pamphleteer, known as "the Plotter".He was a son of William...
of Glen Islay, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, and of the Indian civil service, and grand-nephew of Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson FRSE, also known as Ferguson of Raith was a Scottish philosopher, social scientist and historian of the Scottish Enlightenment...
, the historian, he was born in India. He went to school at Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
under Alexander Crombie
Alexander Crombie
The Rev Dr Alexander Crombie was a Presbyterian minister, schoolmaster and philosopher....
, author of the Gymnasium, and began to study medicine as the pupil of one of his relatives, a practitioner in Soho, and in attendance at the lectures of the Great Windmill Street
Great Windmill Street
Great Windmill Street is a thoroughfare running north-south in Soho, London, England. It is dissected by Shaftesbury Avenue. The street took its name from the windmill on the site which was first recorded 1585 and was demolished during the 1690s...
school of anatomy. After an interval of general study at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, he joined the medical classes at Edinburgh and graduated M.D. in 1823.
Through family connections he became intimate with the circle of Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
, and on proceeding to London brought with him an introduction from Lockhart to Mr. Murray of Albemarle Street
Albemarle Street
Albemarle Street is a street in Mayfair in central London, off Piccadilly. It has historic associations with Lord Byron, whose publisher John Murray was based here, and Oscar Wilde, a member of the Albemarle Club, where an insult he received led to his suing for libel and to his eventual imprisonment...
, who introduced him to literary circles in the metropolis. After travelling abroad for a time as medical attendant, he took the post of resident medical officer at the Marylebone Infirmary, where he learned from Dr. Hooper ‘many of those strange resources and prescriptions on which, to the surprise of many of his contemporaries, he was wont to rely with entire confidence in some of the greatest emergencies of medical practice’. With the support of Robert Gooch
Robert Gooch
-Life:Born at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, in June 1784, he was son of Robert Gooch, a sea captain who was a grandson of Sir Thomas Gooch. He was educated at a private day school, and when fifteen was apprenticed to Giles Borrett, surgeon-apothecary at Yarmouth...
he entered on special obstetric practice, was appointed physician to the Westminster Lying-in Hospital, and professor of obstetrics at the newly founded King's College
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
in 1831. In 1827 he had been active in founding the London Medical Gazette as an organ of conservative opinion in medical politics and of academical views in medical science. Along with Watson he attended Scott in 1831 when he passed through London in broken health on his way to Naples, and again in 1832 on his way back.
He became a fellow of the College of Physicians in 1837, and afterwards councillor and censor. In 1840 he was appointed physician-accoucheur to the queen, in which capacity he attended, along with Sir Charles Locock, at the birth of all her majesty's children.
About 1857 he gradually withdrew from his extensive obstetric practice, and became a general medical consultant. He died at his cottage at Winkfield
Winkfield
Winkfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest unitary authority of Berkshire, England.-Geography:According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 15,271...
, Berkshire, on 25 June 1865.
Works
For Murray's Family Library he afterwards compiled two volumes, anonymously, on the Natural History of Insects, and for the Quarterly ReviewQuarterly 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:...
he wrote ten articles from 1829 to 1854, most of them medical, and one or two of a philosopho-religious kind. His first publication, dated in 1825 from Baker Street
Baker Street
Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder William Baker, who laid the street out in the 18th century. The street is most famous for its connection to the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who lived at a fictional 221B...
, was a letter to Sir Henry Halford
Henry Halford
Sir Henry Halford, 1st Baronet, GCH , born Henry Vaughan, royal and society physician, was physician extraordinary to King George III from 1793 to 1820, then as physician in ordinary to his three successors - George IV, William IV and the young Victoria...
proposing a combination of the old inoculation of small-pox with vaccination.
His professional writings belong to the earlier period of his practice: Puerperal Fever 1839; Diseases of the Uterus and Ovaria in Tweedie's Library of Medicine; and an edition of Gooch's papers on the Diseases of Women, with concise introductory essay, for the New Sydenham Society, 1859.