Robert Sibbald

Sir Robert Sibbald (April 15 1641–August 1722), Scottish physician and antiquary, was born in Edinburgh.

Related Topics:
April 15 - 1641 - August - 1722 - Scottish - Physician - Antiquary - Edinburgh

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Educated at the Universities of Edinburgh, Leiden, and Paris, he took his doctor's degree at the University of Angers in 1662, and soon afterwards settled as a physician in Edinburgh. In 1667 with Sir Andrew Balfour he started the botanical garden in Edinburgh, and he took a leading part in establishing the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, of which he was elected president in 1684.

Related Topics:
Edinburgh - Leiden - Paris - University of Angers - 1662 - 1667 - Andrew Balfour - Botanical garden - Royal College of Physicians - 1684

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In 1685 he was appointed the first professor of medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He was also appointed Geographer Royal in 1682, and his numerous and miscellaneous writings deal with historical and antiquarian as well as with botanical and medical subjects.

Related Topics:
1685 - Geographer Royal - 1682

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Sibbald's historical and antiquarian works include:

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• A History Ancient and Modern of the Sheriffdoms of Fife and Kinross (Edinburgh, 1710, and Cupar, 1803)
• An Account of the Scottish Atlas (folio, Edinburgh, 1683)
• Scotia illustrata (Edinburgh, 1684)
• Description of the Isles of Orkney and Shetland (folio, Edinburgh, 1711 and 1845).

The Remains of Sir Robert Sibbald, containing his autobiography, memoirs of the Royal College of Physicians, a portion of his literary correspondence, and an account of his manuscripts, was published at Edinburgh in 1833.

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