| Description | James Hamilton was born in Edinburgh in 1767, the son of Alexander Hamilton (1739 - 1802), the Professor of Midwifery at the University, a role into which the son would follow in 1800. Hamilton was educated first by his father and graduated from the University of St. Andrews in 1792. In the same year he was elected to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Noted for his argumentativeness, he publicly battled with his colleagues, including Sir Robert Christison (1797 - 1882), Professor Thomas Charles Hope (1766 - 1844) and Professor James Gregory (1753 - 1821), over the curriculum and the merits of his subject. His publications include Hints for the Treatment of the Principal Diseases of Infancy and Childhood adapted for the use of Parents (1808), Observations on the Use and Abuse of Mercurial Medicine in Various Diseases (1819) and Practical Observations on Subjects relating to Midwifery (two volumes; 1836).
In 1793 his father, Alexander Hamilton, founded the Edinburgh General Lying-In Hospital. James carried out attendance on this institution and instruction of students there for 40 years. He was succeeded in the Chair of Midwifery by Sir James Young Simpson (1811 - 1870) and died in 1839.
[Source: www.scottish-places.info and 'History of Scottish Medicine' by John D Comrie]
Contents: Heads of lectures on the theory and practice of midwifery and the diseases of childhood, 1793-1800; Manuscript notes in 'Outlines of the Theory and Practice of Midwifery' by Alexander Hamilton, 1801; lists of students attending lectures, 1802-1835; lectures on midwifery, c1818-c1839; examination subjects, 1832-1837; memorials to the City of Edinburgh on his treatment by the University of Edinburgh, 1825-1829 |