Portrait of: Archibald Pitcairne
By: Rob Stranae
After: S. Medina
Style: Line engraving
Dimensions: 23. 4 x 38. 2 cm
Archibald Pitcairne (1652-1713) was a Scottish physician who was born in Edinburgh. He entered the University of Edinburgh in 1668. Pitcairne was the youngest founding member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, which obtained its charter in 1681. Pitcairne served as its second secretary in 1684.
The historian John Comrie has argued that Pitcairne, more than anybody else, could be regarded as the originator of the Edinburgh Medical School. Along with Sir Robert Sibbald and James Halkett, Pitcairne was made a Professor in1685 when a first attempt was made to form a medical school at the Universityof Edinburgh. However, due to a lack of funding this initial attempt wasnot seen to be a success.
