Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows. It is a sister institute of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians in the United Kingdom: Edinburgh
, Glasgow
and London
.
, and in 1692, by King William III
and Queen Mary II of England
. It was known as the King and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland until 1890 when, under charter of Queen Victoria, it adopted the present title.
The College was founded in 1654 by John Stearne, a Professor and Registrar of Trinity College, Dublin, for the purpose of regulating the practice of medicine in Ireland. Originally, it was called "The Fraternity of Physicians of Trinity Hall", as its first home was in a building called Trinity Hall, given to the Physicians by Trinity College.
The Royal Charter of 1692 made the Physicians independent of Trinity College but meant that they had to leave Trinity Hall. They then had no permanent home until the opening of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital in 1812, when the College established its headquarters in some rooms in the hospital.
In 1860, the College purchased the premises of the Kildare Street Club in Kildare Street. The building was destroyed in a fire in November 1860 and subsequently rebuilt by the College to its own design. It opened in 1864 and has remained the College's home ever since.
The College Library dates its foundation to 1713 when Sir Patrick Dun bequeathed his personal, large library to the College. The Library has been known as "Dun's Library" ever since. The Dun's Library forms part of the College's Heritage Centre, with the archive, heritage items and genealogical research collections. The Heritage Centre holds one of the most important and extensive collections of printed, manuscript material and items relating to the history of medicine and medical education in Ireland.
, Sir Patrick Dun
(1681-93), Henry Marsh
(1841), Robert James Graves
(1843), William Stokes (1849), Sir Dominic Corrigan
(1859-1863). James Little
(1837–1916), who was president from 1886 to 1888, had worked as a ship's surgeon early in his career. He survived the shipwreck of the SS Ava
in 1858, which is recorded in his diary, now held in the college's archives.
Since several years, the College has been successfully conducting its MRCPI examinations in its overseas centers (Malaysia, Oman, India, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain) in addition to many centers in the Republic of Ireland.
Membership is governed by the by-laws of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Every candidate wishing to obtain Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland must pass both parts of the Membership Examination (unless exemption has been granted) and attend a Membership Conferring Ceremony where he/she is conferred as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Membership awards the right to use the post nominal MRCPI.
Fellowship is awarded by the College upon nomination by existing Fellows (or upon nomination by existing Fellows of sister Colleges) to doctors of consultant or equivalent status. The benefits of this award include recognition of professional standing, access to Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development support, international collegiality and the opportunity to influence the future of the profession. Fellowship awards the right to use the post nominal FRCPI and to play a full part in the governance and future direction of the College.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...
, 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...
and London
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...
.
History
The "Royal" in the title comes from the Royal Charters that were granted in 1667, by King Charles II of EnglandCharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and in 1692, by King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and Queen Mary II of England
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
. It was known as the King and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland until 1890 when, under charter of Queen Victoria, it adopted the present title.
The College was founded in 1654 by John Stearne, a Professor and Registrar of Trinity College, Dublin, for the purpose of regulating the practice of medicine in Ireland. Originally, it was called "The Fraternity of Physicians of Trinity Hall", as its first home was in a building called Trinity Hall, given to the Physicians by Trinity College.
The Royal Charter of 1692 made the Physicians independent of Trinity College but meant that they had to leave Trinity Hall. They then had no permanent home until the opening of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital in 1812, when the College established its headquarters in some rooms in the hospital.
In 1860, the College purchased the premises of the Kildare Street Club in Kildare Street. The building was destroyed in a fire in November 1860 and subsequently rebuilt by the College to its own design. It opened in 1864 and has remained the College's home ever since.
The College Library dates its foundation to 1713 when Sir Patrick Dun bequeathed his personal, large library to the College. The Library has been known as "Dun's Library" ever since. The Dun's Library forms part of the College's Heritage Centre, with the archive, heritage items and genealogical research collections. The Heritage Centre holds one of the most important and extensive collections of printed, manuscript material and items relating to the history of medicine and medical education in Ireland.
Presidents
Among the famous past presidents of the College were William Fetherstone MontgomeryWilliam Fetherstone Montgomery
William Fetherstone Montgomery was an Irish obstetrician credited for first describing the Glands of Montgomery.Montgomery was born, raised and educated in Dublin, Ireland. He attended medical school at Trinity College, Dublin...
, Sir Patrick Dun
Sir Patrick Dun
Sir Patrick Dun was a famous Irish physician, and president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.He was elected in 1692 to the Irish House of Commons for Killyleagh and sat there until 1695....
(1681-93), Henry Marsh
Sir Henry Marsh, 1st Baronet
Sir Henry Marsh, 1st Baronet was an Irish physician and surgeon.He was born in Loughrea, County Galway in Ireland. He was one of the medical doctors associated with Basedow's syndrome, which is also known as Marsh's disease and currently as Graves' disease.-Biography:Marsh originally wanted to...
(1841), Robert James Graves
Robert James Graves
Robert James Graves, M.D., F.R.C.S. was an eminent Irish surgeon after whom Graves' disease takes its name. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Fellow of the Royal Society of London and the founder of the Dublin Journal of Medical Science...
(1843), William Stokes (1849), Sir Dominic Corrigan
Dominic Corrigan
Sir Dominic Corrigan was a physician, known for his original observations in heart disease. The abnormal "collapsing" pulse of aortic valve insufficiency is named Corrigan's pulse after him.-Birth and Education:The son of a dealer in agricultural tools, Corrigan was educated in St...
(1859-1863). James Little
James Little (physician)
Dr. James Little was an eminent Irish medical practitioner. After spending an early part of his career as a ship's surgeon, surviving a shipwreck, he became chief physician at the Adelaide Hospital in Dublin and Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Dublin.-Early life:Little was born in...
(1837–1916), who was president from 1886 to 1888, had worked as a ship's surgeon early in his career. He survived the shipwreck of the SS Ava
SS Ava (1855)
The SS Ava was a 1,613 GRT British steamship, constructed in 1855 by the Tod & McGregor shipyard in Glasgow. Described as "an iron screw barque with one funnel", she was operated by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company on the China mail service and was named after Ava, the ancient...
in 1858, which is recorded in his diary, now held in the college's archives.
Membership and qualifications
The College offers the postgraduate MRCPI qualification. There is a separate and distinct MRCP(UK) qualification, run by the Royal Colleges of Physicians in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.Since several years, the College has been successfully conducting its MRCPI examinations in its overseas centers (Malaysia, Oman, India, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain) in addition to many centers in the Republic of Ireland.
Membership is governed by the by-laws of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Every candidate wishing to obtain Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland must pass both parts of the Membership Examination (unless exemption has been granted) and attend a Membership Conferring Ceremony where he/she is conferred as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Membership awards the right to use the post nominal MRCPI.
Fellowship is awarded by the College upon nomination by existing Fellows (or upon nomination by existing Fellows of sister Colleges) to doctors of consultant or equivalent status. The benefits of this award include recognition of professional standing, access to Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development support, international collegiality and the opportunity to influence the future of the profession. Fellowship awards the right to use the post nominal FRCPI and to play a full part in the governance and future direction of the College.
Faculties & Institutes
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine
- Faculty of Paediatrics
- Faculty of Pathology
- Faculty of Public Health Medicine
- Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (in conjunction with the Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandThe Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
)