Robert Lee (midwifery)
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee FRS was Regius Professor of Midwifery
at the University of Glasgow
in 1834. He held the Chair for the shortest period of any holder to date, resigning from his position immediately after giving his opening address.
, Roxburghshire
in 1793, the second son of John Lee, an agriculturist. He was educated at Galashiels
, chiefly by the Reverend Robert Balmer
, until in 1806, at age thirteen, he went to the University of Edinburgh
, from which he graduated MD
in 1814. After his graduation he was appointed Physician's Clerk to James Hamilton, Professor of Midwifery at the University of Edinburgh, a position he relinquished in 1817.
, Governor-General of the Crimea
. Through this office he met Alexander I of Russia
in 1825. He described his experiences in Russia in the book The Last Days of Alexander and the First Days of Nicholas, published in 1854. Returning to London in 1827, Lee was appointed in 1830 a Fellow of the Royal Society, an institution with which he maintained a long and acrimonious relationship, particularly over the disputed award of a Royal Medal
to Thomas Snow Beck
.
Through the offices of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
, Lee was appointed Regius Professor of Midwifery at the University of Glasgow in 1834. However, he resigned after his opening speech and returned immediately to London.
Between 1835 and 1866 he was lecturer at St George's Hospital
, London
, on midwifery and the diseases of women. In 1841 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
. He delivered their Lumleian lectures
in 1856, their Croonian Lecture
in 1862 and their Harveian oration
in 1864, the last time it was delivered in Latin.
Regius Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Glasgow
The Regius Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is a Regius Professorship at the University of Glasgow. It was founded in 1815 as the Regius Chair of Midwifery by King George III of Great Britain. From 1790 to 1815 the subject was taught by a lecturer on the Waltonian Foundation...
at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1834. He held the Chair for the shortest period of any holder to date, resigning from his position immediately after giving his opening address.
Early life
Lee was born at MelroseMelrose, Scotland
Melrose is a small town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. It is in the Eildon committee area.-Etymology:...
, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
in 1793, the second son of John Lee, an agriculturist. He was educated at Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
, chiefly by the Reverend Robert Balmer
Robert Balmer
Robert Balmer , was a minister of the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church.Balmer was born at Ormiston Mains, in the parish of Eckford, Roxburghshire on 22 November 1787. He evinced considerable abilities and a disposition towards the Christian ministry. He entered the University of...
, until in 1806, at age thirteen, he went to 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...
, from which he graduated MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1814. After his graduation he was appointed Physician's Clerk to James Hamilton, Professor of Midwifery at the University of Edinburgh, a position he relinquished in 1817.
Career
In 1824 Lee accepted an appointment as personal physician to Prince Mikhail Semyonovich VorontsovMikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov
Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov , was a Russian prince and field-marshal, renowned for his success in the Napoleonic wars, and most famous for his participation in the Caucasian War from 1844 to 1853....
, Governor-General of the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. Through this office he met Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
in 1825. He described his experiences in Russia in the book The Last Days of Alexander and the First Days of Nicholas, published in 1854. Returning to London in 1827, Lee was appointed in 1830 a Fellow of the Royal Society, an institution with which he maintained a long and acrimonious relationship, particularly over the disputed award of a Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
to Thomas Snow Beck
Thomas Snow Beck
Thomas Snow Beck FRCS FRS was a British doctor and surgeon. He qualified as a doctor in London. In 1845, he was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal for his unpublished paper entitled On the nerves of the uterus...
.
Through the offices of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
, Lee was appointed Regius Professor of Midwifery at the University of Glasgow in 1834. However, he resigned after his opening speech and returned immediately to London.
Between 1835 and 1866 he was lecturer at 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....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on midwifery and the diseases of women. In 1841 he 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...
. He delivered their Lumleian lectures
Lumleian Lectures
The Lumleian Lectures are a series of annual lectures run by the Royal College of Physicians of London, started in 1582 and now run by the Lumleian Trust. The name commemorates John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, who with Richard Caldwell of the College endowed the lectures, initially confined to...
in 1856, their 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...
in 1862 and their Harveian oration
Harveian Oration
The Harveian Oration is a yearly lecture held at the Royal College of Physicians of London. It was instituted in 1656 by William Harvey, discoverer of the systemic circulation. Harvey made financial provision for the college to hold an annual feast on St...
in 1864, the last time it was delivered in Latin.