Robert Macnish
Encyclopedia
Robert Macnish was a 19th. century Scottish surgeon physician, philosopher and writer.
in 1848), Robert Macnish entered on his medical studies at the University of Glasgow
and aged 18 passed the examination of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
(then known as the Glasgow Faculty), obtaining the degree of Magister Chirurgiae
.
, north Scotland. It was during his eighteen months there that he began his philosophical studies and composed his first literary works, including The Tale of Eivor, a Scandinavian Legend, and the Harp of Salem, published in the Inverness Journal. Other works, in prose and verse, were published in the Literary Melange and the Emmet periodicals and in 1822 he submitted to the Edinburgh Magazine the short stories Macvurich the Murderer and The Dream Confirmed, both based on real incidents he learned of during his time in Caithness.
Returning to Glasgow, Macnish then journeyed to Paris where for a year he continued his medical and literary studies and tried to regain his health, damaged during his time in the north of Scotland. From Paris he returned to Glasgow as an assistant to his doctor father and to complete his medical studies, gaining his diploma of surgeon at Glasgow University in 1825, his thesis being an essay on The Anatomy of Drunkenness, which he was later to expand into a literary work of the same title published in 1827. This was to be expanded until a fifth edition, published in 1834.
began with the publication, as a leading article, of his story The Metempsychosis, followed by publication of his Man with the Nose, and the Barber of Gottingen. 1826 brought publication of his Adventures of Colonel O’Shaughnessy and Who can it be?, and for Macnish the epithet, 'Modern Pythagorean'. His other works included Execution at Paris, Night near Monte Video, A Vision of Robert Bruce, The Philosophy of Sleep, and his Book of Aphorisms, published in 1833. His Introduction to Phrenology followed in 1835.
Macnish’s works were to be translated into French and German, and re-published in the United States. In 1835 he was awarded the honorary degree of LL.D. by Hamilton College, United States.
Contracting influenza that developed into typhus fever, Robert Macnish died at Glasgow 16 January 1837 and was interred in the cemetery of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chapel, Glasgow. His portrait by Daniel Maclise
, and published by James Fraser as a lithograph in 1835, is held in the National Gallery
, London.
The Philosophy of Sleep (Published in five editions from 1827-1834)
The Constitution Of Man by George Combe, John Foster and Robert Macnish (Original publisher S. Andrus & Son, 1835, republished Aug 10, 2011)
The Anatomy of Drunkenness (Re-published 1836)
An Introduction to Phrenology in the Form of Question and Answer (Published 1836)
An introduction to phrenology (Published 1837)
The Modern Pythagorean: a series of tales, essays, and sketches, Volume 2 (Robert Macnish and David Macbeth Moir. Publisher W. Blackwood and Sons, 1838)
Tales, essays, and sketches (Published 1844)
The Book of Aphorisms (Originally published 1833, re-published 1859)
The Confessions of an Unexecuted Femicide
The Angel and the Spirit
Early life and education
Robert Macnish was born on the 15 February 1802 at Henderson’s Court, Jamaica Street, Glasgow. His father and grandfather were doctors and after private education in Glasgow and at the long-established Old Grammar School of Hamilton (renamed the Hamilton AcademyHamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
in 1848), Robert Macnish entered on his medical studies 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...
and aged 18 passed the examination of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
(then known as the Glasgow Faculty), obtaining the degree of Magister Chirurgiae
Master of Surgery
The Master of Surgery is an advanced qualification in surgery. It is most commonly abbreviated Ch.M. or M.S., as well as M.Ch. and M.Chir. from its Latin name, Magister Chirurgiae or the English form of Master of Surgery....
.
Career and further studies
Macnish’s first professional appointment was as an assistant to a doctor (Henderson) in CaithnessCaithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
, north Scotland. It was during his eighteen months there that he began his philosophical studies and composed his first literary works, including The Tale of Eivor, a Scandinavian Legend, and the Harp of Salem, published in the Inverness Journal. Other works, in prose and verse, were published in the Literary Melange and the Emmet periodicals and in 1822 he submitted to the Edinburgh Magazine the short stories Macvurich the Murderer and The Dream Confirmed, both based on real incidents he learned of during his time in Caithness.
Returning to Glasgow, Macnish then journeyed to Paris where for a year he continued his medical and literary studies and tried to regain his health, damaged during his time in the north of Scotland. From Paris he returned to Glasgow as an assistant to his doctor father and to complete his medical studies, gaining his diploma of surgeon at Glasgow University in 1825, his thesis being an essay on The Anatomy of Drunkenness, which he was later to expand into a literary work of the same title published in 1827. This was to be expanded until a fifth edition, published in 1834.
Later works
It was from 1825 that Robert Macnish’s association with Blackwood's MagazineBlackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
began with the publication, as a leading article, of his story The Metempsychosis, followed by publication of his Man with the Nose, and the Barber of Gottingen. 1826 brought publication of his Adventures of Colonel O’Shaughnessy and Who can it be?, and for Macnish the epithet, 'Modern Pythagorean'. His other works included Execution at Paris, Night near Monte Video, A Vision of Robert Bruce, The Philosophy of Sleep, and his Book of Aphorisms, published in 1833. His Introduction to Phrenology followed in 1835.
Macnish’s works were to be translated into French and German, and re-published in the United States. In 1835 he was awarded the honorary degree of LL.D. by Hamilton College, United States.
Contracting influenza that developed into typhus fever, Robert Macnish died at Glasgow 16 January 1837 and was interred in the cemetery of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chapel, Glasgow. His portrait by Daniel Maclise
Daniel Maclise
Daniel Maclise was an Irish history, literary and portrait painter, and illustrator, who worked for most of his life in London, England.-Early life:...
, and published by James Fraser as a lithograph in 1835, is held in the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
, London.
Published works
Among the published works by Robert Macnish (or as co-author,) published in his lifetime or re-published after his death in 1837 were:The Philosophy of Sleep (Published in five editions from 1827-1834)
The Constitution Of Man by George Combe, John Foster and Robert Macnish (Original publisher S. Andrus & Son, 1835, republished Aug 10, 2011)
The Anatomy of Drunkenness (Re-published 1836)
An Introduction to Phrenology in the Form of Question and Answer (Published 1836)
An introduction to phrenology (Published 1837)
The Modern Pythagorean: a series of tales, essays, and sketches, Volume 2 (Robert Macnish and David Macbeth Moir. Publisher W. Blackwood and Sons, 1838)
Tales, essays, and sketches (Published 1844)
The Book of Aphorisms (Originally published 1833, re-published 1859)
The Confessions of an Unexecuted Femicide
The Angel and the Spirit