John Abercrombie 1780-1844

John ABERCROMBIE 1780-1844

Biographical Note

Born in Aberdeen, son of George Abercrombie, minister of the East Church there. After study at Marischal College, Aberdeen he graduated MD at Edinburgh University in 1803. He then spent six months at St George's Hospital, London before returning to Scotland, establishing himself as a physician in Edinburgh and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Marriage to Agnes Wardlaw in 1808 brought him substantial wealth, but he continued to practice, and published papers on medical subjects. He became King's Physician for Scotland in 1828, and a senior figure in Edinburgh medical circles; he was appointed rector of Marischal College in 1835. Towards the end of his life he became increasingly engaged in religious and philosophical topics, and published several works on moral themes in the 1830s.

Books

Abercrombie's library of ca.1000 volumes was given to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh by his daughters in 1845.

Sources

• Bunch, Antonia, Hospital and medical libraries in Scotland, Glasgow, 1975, p.32.
• Hervey, Nick. "Abercrombie, John (1780–1844), physician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
• Information from Brian Hillyard.