Sir Alexander Dick, 3rd Baronet of Prestonfield PRCPE FRSE FSAScot (22 October 1703 – 10 November 1785) was a Scottish landowner and physician, who rose to be President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.[3][4]
Sir Alexander Dick, 3rd Baronet PRCPE FRSE FSA | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh | |
| In office 1756–1763[1] | |
| Baronet of Prestonfield | |
| In office 1746–1785 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alexander Cunningham 22 October 1703 |
| Died | 10 November 1785 |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 12[2] |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | landowner and physician |
Life
editDick was born Alexander Cunningham at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, the 3rd son of Sir William Cunningham, 2nd Baronet of Lambrughton and Caprington, Ayrshire and his wife Janet Dick, the only daughter and heiress of Sir James Dick, 1st Baronet of Prestonfield, Edinburgh. He changed his surname to Dick on the death in 1746 of his elder brother William, when he inherited the baronetcy and Prestonfield.[5] He was educated at the Edinburgh High School and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leyden and the University of St Andrews.[4]
After qualifying as a physician, he set up in practice in Pembrokeshire prior to his inheritance. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1727 and elected President of the Society from 1756 to 1763.[4]
In 1753, with the Lord Provost, Robert Craigie, Lord Kames and Lord Drummore and Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck he organised the site to create the Edinburgh Royal Exchange (which later became Edinburgh City Chambers.[6]
He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and in 1783 was a founding fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
He is mentioned in James Boswell's The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson (1785).
Family
editHe married twice, firstly in 1736 to Janet Dick, and secondly in 1762 to Mary Butler.[7][2] He left 3 sons and 5 daughters, out of 12 total children.[2] He was succeeded by his eldest son William, the 4th Baronet.
References
edit- ^ Derek Doyle (2007). "Past presidents: Sir Alexander Dick". Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. 37. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "The Scots Magazine". Sands, Brymer, Murray and Cochran. 19 May 1790. Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002" (PDF). Royal Society of Edinburgh. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ a b c "Dick [formerly Cunyngham], Sir Alexander, third baronet". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7592. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Paterson, James. History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton, Volume 1, Part 2. p. 650.
- ^ "BOEC Volume 22" (PDF). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ C D Waterston; A Macmillan Shearer (July 2006). Former Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783–2002: Part 1 (A–J) (PDF). Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 090219884X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2015.