Alexander Monro (secundus)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Monro of Craiglockhart
and Cockburn
(22 May 1733 – 2 October 1817) was a Scottish anatomist, surgeon and medical educator. To distinguish him as the second of three generations of physicians of the same name
, he is known as secundus. His students included the naval physician and abolitionist Thomas Trotter
. Alexander was from the distinguished Munro of Auchinbowie
family.
Alexander Monro (secundus), the third and youngest son of Alexander Monro (primus)
and Isabella Macdonald of Sleat
, was born at Edinburgh
on May 20, 1733. He was sent with his brothers to Mr Mundell's school, where he learned the rudiments of Latin and Greek, and showed early evidences of great ability. Among his school-fellows were Ilay Campbell who was afterwards Lord President of the Court in Session and William Ramsay of Barnton, the banker.
Alexander's father decided to make him his successor and sent him to Edinburgh University when he was twelve years old, to attend the ordinary course of philosophy before beginning his professional training. He studied mathematics under the great Maclaurin
and ethics under Sir John Pringle
. Alexander was also a great favourite of Dr Matthew Stewart
, Professor of Experimental Philosophy.
Alexander showed a taste for anatomy and after entering on his medical course in his eighteenth year he became a useful assistant to his father in the dissecting room. He attended the lectures of Drs Rutherford
, Plummer
, Alston
and Sinclair
. He possessed an insatiable thirst for medical knowledge, an uncommon share of perseverance, and a very good memory.
In the session of 1753-54 his father (Alexander Monro primus) found his class too large for the lecture room and had to divide the class, repeating his lecture in the evening. This he found difficult and experimented with his son (Alexander Monro (secundus) to take the evening class. The results were satisfactory and so he presented a petition to the Town Council at the close of the session asking them to formally appoint his son as his successor. This was granted on June 10 and Alexander Monro secondus was admitted as conjunct professor on July 11.
Alexander Monro (secundus) took his degree as Doctor of Medicine on October 20, 1775. He then proceeded to his studies abroad. He spent a short time in London, where he attended the lectures of Dr William Hunter
. He next visited Paris and on September 17, 1757 entered Leyden University where he formed a friendship with two famous anatomists, Bernhard Siegfried Albinus
and Petrus Camper
. However his foreign studies were principally prosecuted at Berlin, where he worked under the celebrated Professor Meckel, in whose house he lived. Alexander spent some time in Edinburgh during early 1757 in order to fill the place of his father, who was confined to the house by illness. He finally was admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
on May 2, 1758 and as a Fellow on May 1, 1759.
His father delivered the opening lectures of the 178-59 course and then handed the work to his son.
Craiglockhart
Craiglockhart is a suburb in the south west of Edinburgh, Scotland, lying between Colinton to the south, Morningside to the east Merchiston to the north east and Kingsknowe to the west...
and Cockburn
Cockburn
-Places:Canada*Cockburn Island , a island in Lake Huron.Caribbean*Cockburn Gardens, a district in the eastern part of Kingston, Jamaica*Cockburn Town, the capital city of the Turks and Caicos Islands...
(22 May 1733 – 2 October 1817) was a Scottish anatomist, surgeon and medical educator. To distinguish him as the second of three generations of physicians of the same name
Alexander Monro
Alexander Monro may refer to:*Alexander Monro , Principal of Edinburgh University, 1685–1690* Alexander Monro , Scottish physician, founder of Edinburgh Medical School...
, he is known as secundus. His students included the naval physician and abolitionist Thomas Trotter
Thomas Trotter (physician)
Thomas Trotter was a naval physician and author who was a leading medical reformer in the Royal Navy and an ardent critic of the slave trade. Trotter was born in Melrose, Roxburghshire and studied medicine under Alexander Monro in Edinburgh.-Publications:*Medicina Nautica: an Essay on the...
. Alexander was from the distinguished Munro of Auchinbowie
Munro of Auchinbowie
The Munros of Auchinbowie are a distinguished branch of the Scottish, highland Clan Munro. From this family three Professors of Anatomy at Edinburgh University, Scotland were produced, as well as several other doctors and military officers.-Lineage:The prognitor of the Munros of Auchinbowie is...
family.
Alexander Monro (secundus), the third and youngest son of Alexander Monro (primus)
Alexander Monro (primus)
Alexander Monro was the founder of Edinburgh Medical School. To distinguish him as the first of three generations of physicians of the same name, he is known as primus....
and Isabella Macdonald of Sleat
Sleat
Sleat is a peninsula on the island of Skye in the Highland council area of Scotland, known as "the garden of Skye". It is the home of the clan MacDonald of Sleat...
, was born at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on May 20, 1733. He was sent with his brothers to Mr Mundell's school, where he learned the rudiments of Latin and Greek, and showed early evidences of great ability. Among his school-fellows were Ilay Campbell who was afterwards Lord President of the Court in Session and William Ramsay of Barnton, the banker.
Alexander's father decided to make him his successor and sent him to Edinburgh University when he was twelve years old, to attend the ordinary course of philosophy before beginning his professional training. He studied mathematics under the great Maclaurin
Maclaurin
Maclaurin or MacLaurin may refer to:People with the surname Maclaurin:* Colin Maclaurin , Scottish mathematician* Normand MacLaurin , Australian politician and university administrator...
and ethics under Sir John Pringle
John Pringle
Sir John Pringle, 1st Baronet, FRS was a Scottish physician who has been called the "father of military medicine" ....
. Alexander was also a great favourite of Dr Matthew Stewart
Matthew Stewart
Matthew Stewart FRS FRSE was a Scottish mathematician and minister of religion.He was born in Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, died at Catrine, Ayrshire, and is interred at Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh....
, Professor of Experimental Philosophy.
Alexander showed a taste for anatomy and after entering on his medical course in his eighteenth year he became a useful assistant to his father in the dissecting room. He attended the lectures of Drs Rutherford
Rutherford
- Places :Australia* Rutherford, New South Wales, a suburb of MaitlandCanada* Mount Rutherford, Jasper National Park* Rutherford House, in Edmonton, Alberta* Rutherford Library, University of AlbertaUnited Kingdom...
, Plummer
Plummer
-Communities:*Plummer, Minnesota, United States*Plummer, Idaho, United States*Plummer Additional, Ontario, Canada-Buildings:*Plummer Building, Rochester, Minnesota, United States*Plummer Memorial Library, Newton, Massachusetts, United States-Streets and parks:...
, Alston
Alston
Alston may refer to:In people:* Alston In places:*Canada**Alstonvale, Quebec*England**Alston, Cumbria**Alston, Devon**Alston, Lancashire*United States**Dresser, California, formerly Alston**Alston, Georgia...
and Sinclair
Sinclair
Sinclair may refer to:Places:* Lake Sinclair, near Milledgeville, Georgia* Sinclair, Iowa* Sinclair, Wyoming* Sinclair Mills, British Columbia* Sinclair Township, MinnesotaPeople:* Sinclair , list of people with this surname...
. He possessed an insatiable thirst for medical knowledge, an uncommon share of perseverance, and a very good memory.
In the session of 1753-54 his father (Alexander Monro primus) found his class too large for the lecture room and had to divide the class, repeating his lecture in the evening. This he found difficult and experimented with his son (Alexander Monro (secundus) to take the evening class. The results were satisfactory and so he presented a petition to the Town Council at the close of the session asking them to formally appoint his son as his successor. This was granted on June 10 and Alexander Monro secondus was admitted as conjunct professor on July 11.
Alexander Monro (secundus) took his degree as Doctor of Medicine on October 20, 1775. He then proceeded to his studies abroad. He spent a short time in London, where he attended the lectures of Dr William Hunter
William Hunter (anatomist)
William Hunter FRS was a Scottish anatomist and physician. He was a leading teacher of anatomy, and the outstanding obstetrician of his day...
. He next visited Paris and on September 17, 1757 entered Leyden University where he formed a friendship with two famous anatomists, Bernhard Siegfried Albinus
Bernhard Siegfried Albinus
Bernhard Siegfried Albinus was a German-born Dutch anatomist.Albinus was born at Frankfurt , where his father, Bernhard Albinus , was professor of the practice of medicine...
and Petrus Camper
Petrus Camper
Peter, Pieter, or usually Petrus Camper was a Dutch physician, anatomist, physiologist, midwife, zoologist, anthropologist, paleontologist and a naturalist. He studied the orangutan, the rhinoceros, the skull of a whale...
. However his foreign studies were principally prosecuted at Berlin, where he worked under the celebrated Professor Meckel, in whose house he lived. Alexander spent some time in Edinburgh during early 1757 in order to fill the place of his father, who was confined to the house by illness. He finally was admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
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...
on May 2, 1758 and as a Fellow on May 1, 1759.
His father delivered the opening lectures of the 178-59 course and then handed the work to his son.