Administrative / Biographical History

Eason was born in 1735 of Scottish descent. In his early life, Eason travelled the continent with Lord Moira before serving in the Inniskilling Dragoons as army surgeon. It is not known when he qualified, but at some point he gained his MD at Aberdeen. In 1771 Eason was appointed visiting physician for infectious cases in the districts of MRI. He was appointed physician to MRI in 1782, but carried on visiting home patients until 1788. This may explain his great popularity among poor people in Manchester. Eason resigned his post in 1790 as a protest against increases of honorary staff at the Infirmary. Eason also opposed the proposal to build a fever ward on Infirmary land in 1796. Eason was one of the founders of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and was vice-president from 1781 to 1784. Eason died on 27 May 1796 after a horse riding accident.

Related Material

See also MMC/1/Eason .