James Rae (1716–1791) was a Scottish surgeon, known as the earliest lecturer on surgery in Edinburgh and with a particular reputation as a dental surgeon.
Engraving from 1786 in John Kay's Edinburgh Portraits: James Rae (left) in conversation with Dr. William Laing and Dr. James Hay, later Sir James Hay of Smithfield
The only son of John Rae (1677–1754), a barber-surgeon originally from Stirlingshire, James was born in Edinburgh in 1716. In 1741 he was apprenticed to the surgeon Robert Hope, on whose death he was apprenticed to George Lauder. After passing four examinations he became, on 27 August 1747, a Freeman (Fellow) of the Incorporation of Surgeons of Edinburgh.[1] In 1764–1765 he filled the office of Deacon or President.[2]
Rae was appointed surgeon-in-ordinary to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 7 July 1766. There he gave practical discourses on cases of importance. In October 1776 his fellow surgeons made a determined attempt to found a professorship of surgery in the University of Edinburgh, and to appoint Rae the first professor. They were defeated by Alexander Monrosecundus, who then managed persuade the authorities to convert his own chair of anatomy into one of anatomy and surgery, despite the fact that he had never been a practising surgeon.[2]
Rae did in Edinburgh what Percivall Pott did in London, in establishing the teaching of clinical surgery. In 1772 he asked the College of Surgeons to "recognise and support a course of lectures on the whole art of surgery..."[3] The college readily agreed and recommended their apprentices to attend the course.
From 1764 Rae had also gave lectures on diseases of the teeth.[4] Boyes claims that this was the first course of lectures in dentistry to be given in Britain.[5] He established a reputation as a dentist and was "among the first, (if not the first) in Edinburgh to rescue that department from the ignorant and unskilled hands in which it was then placed."[3]
He died in 1791, and was buried in the tomb of his forefathers in Greyfriars Kirk. His wife, Isabella Cant died the next year and was buried with him.[2]
The grave lies mid-way along the eastern boundary wall.
Familyedit
Rae married, in 1744, Isobel, daughter of Ludovic Cant of Thurstan. By her he had two sons and several daughters. The elder son William joined the Incorporation of Surgeons on 18 July 1777, settled in London, where he married Isabella, sister of Robert Dallas, and died young. John, the younger brother, was one of the first fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where he was admitted on 14 March 1781. He became president in 1804–1805, and, like his father, was known as a dentist. He died in 1808. Among Rae's daughters were: Elizabeth Keir, who founded the Institution for the Relief of Incurables; Elizabeth (Isabella), mother of Marjorie Fleming; and Margaret, mother of William Fettes.[2][7]
Referencesedit
^List of fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: from the year 1581 to 31st December 1873, Royal College of Surgens of Edinburgh, 1874, retrieved 4 March 2018
^Lindsay, Alexia. "Fettes, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9376. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
james, surgeon, james, 1716, 1791, scottish, surgeon, known, earliest, lecturer, surgery, edinburgh, with, particular, reputation, dental, surgeon, engraving, from, 1786, john, edinburgh, portraits, james, left, conversation, with, william, laing, james, later. James Rae 1716 1791 was a Scottish surgeon known as the earliest lecturer on surgery in Edinburgh and with a particular reputation as a dental surgeon Engraving from 1786 in John Kay s Edinburgh Portraits James Rae left in conversation with Dr William Laing and Dr James Hay later Sir James Hay of SmithfieldContents 1 Life 2 Death 3 Family 4 ReferencesLife editThe only son of John Rae 1677 1754 a barber surgeon originally from Stirlingshire James was born in Edinburgh in 1716 In 1741 he was apprenticed to the surgeon Robert Hope on whose death he was apprenticed to George Lauder After passing four examinations he became on 27 August 1747 a Freeman Fellow of the Incorporation of Surgeons of Edinburgh 1 In 1764 1765 he filled the office of Deacon or President 2 Rae was appointed surgeon in ordinary to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 7 July 1766 There he gave practical discourses on cases of importance In October 1776 his fellow surgeons made a determined attempt to found a professorship of surgery in the University of Edinburgh and to appoint Rae the first professor They were defeated by Alexander Monro secundus who then managed persuade the authorities to convert his own chair of anatomy into one of anatomy and surgery despite the fact that he had never been a practising surgeon 2 Rae did in Edinburgh what Percivall Pott did in London in establishing the teaching of clinical surgery In 1772 he asked the College of Surgeons to recognise and support a course of lectures on the whole art of surgery 3 The college readily agreed and recommended their apprentices to attend the course From 1764 Rae had also gave lectures on diseases of the teeth 4 Boyes claims that this was the first course of lectures in dentistry to be given in Britain 5 He established a reputation as a dentist and was among the first if not the first in Edinburgh to rescue that department from the ignorant and unskilled hands in which it was then placed 3 Death edit nbsp The grave of the Rae family Greyfriars KirkyardHe lived his final years at Castlehill the upper section of the Royal Mile 6 He died in 1791 and was buried in the tomb of his forefathers in Greyfriars Kirk His wife Isabella Cant died the next year and was buried with him 2 The grave lies mid way along the eastern boundary wall Family editRae married in 1744 Isobel daughter of Ludovic Cant of Thurstan By her he had two sons and several daughters The elder son William joined the Incorporation of Surgeons on 18 July 1777 settled in London where he married Isabella sister of Robert Dallas and died young John the younger brother was one of the first fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh where he was admitted on 14 March 1781 He became president in 1804 1805 and like his father was known as a dentist He died in 1808 Among Rae s daughters were Elizabeth Keir who founded the Institution for the Relief of Incurables Elizabeth Isabella mother of Marjorie Fleming and Margaret mother of William Fettes 2 7 References edit List of fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from the year 1581 to 31st December 1873 Royal College of Surgens of Edinburgh 1874 retrieved 4 March 2018 a b c d Lee Sidney ed 1896 Rae James Dictionary of National Biography Vol 47 London Smith Elder amp Co a b Miles A 1918 The Edinburgh School of Surgery before Lister London A amp C Black p79 Minutes Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 24 January 1764 Boyes J 1953 James Rae Proc Roy Soc Med Volume 46 issue 6 page s 457 460 https doi org 10 1177 003591575304600612 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1790 Lindsay Alexia Fettes Sir William Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 9376 Subscription or UK public library membership required Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1896 Rae James Dictionary of National Biography Vol 47 London Smith Elder amp Co Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Rae surgeon amp oldid 1149217877, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
