Sir Alexander Nisbet
Encyclopedia
Sir Alexander Nisbet RN, MD, (1795–1874) was a naval surgeon notable for his role in early convict transport
s to Australia, and as H.M. Inspector of Hospitals for the Royal Navy
.
Alexander Nisbet was born in Scotland, son of Captain Alexander Nisbet, and joined the British Royal Navy Medical Service
in 1812. He saw active service during the American War
(1812-1814). In 1823 he completed a doctorate in medicine at Edinburgh University, submitting a dissertation entitled Pneumonia Typhode; and, began a long and successful career as a surgeon-superintendent serving on seven convict ships transporting convicts from Great Britain to Australia (1824-1840).
In 1844 Alexander became Deputy Director of Hospitals at Greenwich. On 12 December 1854, at Arley, Staffordshire, he married Lucy Susannah Davenport, daughter of the Rev. E.S. Davenport. In 1855 Nisbet was appointed Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets at Haslar Royal Hospital
, retiring from the Royal Navy in 1861. He was appointed as Honorary Physician
to Queen Victoria in 1873 and later that year he was knighted by Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone
.
He died of "natural decay" at his home Arley Lodge in Lee, London
at the age of seventy-nine, and is buried in Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries
.
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
s to Australia, and as H.M. Inspector of Hospitals for 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...
.
Alexander Nisbet was born in Scotland, son of Captain Alexander Nisbet, and joined the British Royal Navy Medical Service
Royal Navy Medical Service
The Royal Navy Medical Service is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for medical care. It works closely with Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.-History:...
in 1812. He saw active service during the American War
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
(1812-1814). In 1823 he completed a doctorate in medicine at Edinburgh University, submitting a dissertation entitled Pneumonia Typhode; and, began a long and successful career as a surgeon-superintendent serving on seven convict ships transporting convicts from Great Britain to Australia (1824-1840).
In 1844 Alexander became Deputy Director of Hospitals at Greenwich. On 12 December 1854, at Arley, Staffordshire, he married Lucy Susannah Davenport, daughter of the Rev. E.S. Davenport. In 1855 Nisbet was appointed Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets at Haslar Royal Hospital
Royal Hospital Haslar
The Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire, England was one of several hospitals serving the Portsmouth Urban Area. The Royal Hospital Haslar officially closed as the last military hospital in the UK in 2007...
, retiring from the Royal Navy in 1861. He was appointed as Honorary Physician
Physician to the Queen
Physician to the King and Physician to the Queen are titles of the physician who is chief officer of the Medical Household of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
to Queen Victoria in 1873 and later that year he was knighted by Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
.
He died of "natural decay" at his home Arley Lodge in Lee, London
Lee, London
Lee is a district of south London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Lewisham and partly in the London Borough of Greenwich. The district lies to the east of Lewisham, one mile west of Eltham, and one mile south of Blackheath village...
at the age of seventy-nine, and is buried in Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries
Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries
Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries were opened within one month of each other in 1858 and are sited on adjacent plots of previously open land. The two component parts are characteristic examples of the first wave of Victorian public cemeteries and are now part of the Brockley Conservation Area.The...
.