Life

The son of Provost George Fordyce (1663-1733) of Aberdeen

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....

, and brother of David Fordyce

David Fordyce

David Fordyce was a Scottish philosopher, a contributor to the Scottish Enlightenment.Fordyce was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen . He entered the ministry and returned to Marischal as regent in 1742, teaching Moral Philosophy there until 1751, when he died by drowning at sea...

, was born at Aberdeen in 1724, and educated at Marischal College

Marischal College

Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...

; also serving a medical pupilage with a local practitioner and with his brother John at Uppingham

Uppingham

Disambiguation: "Uppingham" is the colloquial name for Uppingham SchoolUppingham is a market town in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England, located on the A47 between Leicester and Peterborough, about 6 miles south of the county town, Oakham.- History :A little over a mile to the...

 in 1743. He volunteering for the army during the War of the Austrian Succession

War of the Austrian Succession

The War of the Austrian Succession  – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...

 which ended in 1748, and obtained an appointment as surgeon to the Guards, with whom he served in three campaigns.

Probably after the peace he travelled and studied in France. He was at Turin

Turin

Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...

 in 1750. While retaining his connection with the army, he entered on general practice in London, and this and the growing fame of his brothers gained him introduction. In 1770 he was created M.D. at Cambridge by royal mandate, and was admitted licentiate 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...

 on 10 April 1786. He was knighted by George III in 1787, and in the same year became Fellow of the Royal Society.

He aided his brother Alexander Fordyce

Alexander Fordyce

Alexander Fordyce was a Scottish banker, centrally involved in the bank run on Neal, James, Fordyce and Down in 1772.-Early life:He was the youngest son of Provost George Fordyce of Aberdeen, and brother to David Fordyce, James Fordyce, and William Fordyce...

 to his rise of fortune, and suffered a heavy loss when he failed, taking upon himself the burden of his brother James Fordyce

James Fordyce

James Fordyce, DD , was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and poet. He is best known for his collection of sermons published in 1766 as Sermons for Young Women, popularly known as Fordyce's Sermons.-Early life:...

's loss also. The Society of Arts voted him a gold medal for his work on rhubarb

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a group of plants that belong to the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large leaves that are somewhat triangular-shaped with long fleshy petioles...

. He died at Brook Street, Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square is a large garden square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London, England. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from their surname, "Grosvenor".-History:...

, after a long illness, on 4 December 1792, aged 68. At the time of his death he was lord rector of Marischal College, to which he left £1,000.

Works

Fordyce's works (all published in London) are:

• 'A Review of the Venereal Disease and its Remedies,' 1767, fifth edition 1785; German translation, Altenburg, 1769.
• 'A New Inquiry into the Causes, Symptoms, and Cure of Putrid and Inflammatory Fevers, with an Appendix on the Hectic Fever and on the Ulcerated Sore Throat,' 1773, fourth edition 1777; German translation, Leipzig, 1774.
• 'The Great Importance and Proper Method of Cultivating and Curing Rhubarb in Britain for Medical Uses,' 1784.
• 'Fragmenta Chirurgica et Medica,' 1784.
• 'Letter to Sir John Sinclair on the Virtues of Muriatic Acid in curing Putrid Diseases,' 1790.