George Ballingall
Encyclopedia
Sir George Ballingall was a Scottish physician and surgeon. He was regius professor
of military surgery at Edinburgh University.
, where he was born 2 May 1780. He studied at St Andrews University, and in 1803 proceeded to the University of Edinburgh (MD 1803), where he was assistant to John Barclay
, lecturer on anatomy.
where special instruction was given in a department of surgical science, the importance of which had too plainly been demonstrated during the long war just ended.
In 1825 Ballingall succeeded to the chair of military surgery, the duties of which he discharged with untiring zeal for thirty years.
He was knighted on the occasion of the accession of King William IV.
The last, which is still regarded as an instructive work, went through five editions, the fifth appearing at the time of the Russian war, shortly before the author's death, which occurred at Blairgowrie on 4 December 1855.
Regius Professor
Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships at the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland - namely Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin. Each of the chairs was created by a monarch, and each appointment, save those at Dublin, is approved by the...
of military surgery at Edinburgh University.
Biography
Ballingall was son of the Rev Robert Ballingall, minister of Forglen, BanffshireBanffshire
The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...
, where he was born 2 May 1780. He studied at St Andrews University, and in 1803 proceeded to the University of Edinburgh (MD 1803), where he was assistant to John Barclay
John Barclay (anatomist)
John Barclay FRSE FRCPE FRCSE FLS MWS was an eminent Scottish comparative anatomist, extra-mural teacher in anatomy, and director of the Highland Society of Scotland....
, lecturer on anatomy.
Army surgeon
He was appointed assistant-surgeon of the 2nd battalion 1st Royals in 1806, with which he served some years in India; in November 1815 he became surgeon of the 33rd foot, and retired on half-pay in l818.Academic career
In 1823 he was chosen as lecturer on military surgery at the University of Edinburgh, which then, and for some years afterwards, was the only place in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where special instruction was given in a department of surgical science, the importance of which had too plainly been demonstrated during the long war just ended.
In 1825 Ballingall succeeded to the chair of military surgery, the duties of which he discharged with untiring zeal for thirty years.
He was knighted on the occasion of the accession of King William IV.
Works
Ballingall, who was a fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and corresponding member of the French Institute, was author of various professional works, the most important being:- Observations on the Diseases of European Troops in India
- Observations on the Site and Construction of Hospitals
- Outlines of Military Surgery
The last, which is still regarded as an instructive work, went through five editions, the fifth appearing at the time of the Russian war, shortly before the author's death, which occurred at Blairgowrie on 4 December 1855.