Lectures and Letters of Professor Alexander Monro (1773-1859)

The collection is composed of: notes on anatomy from the lectures of Monro, 1808; a letter to Dr. Arnold of Beccles offering to obtain for him a post as a naval surgeon, 1808; and, a pen and ink sketch of Monro, circa 1834 or 1835.

Alexander Monro was born in Edinburgh on 5 November 1773. he was the son of Professor Alexander Monro (1733-1817). He was educated at the city's Royal High School and then studied at Edinburgh University like his father and grandfather before him. He was awarded his M.D. in 1797, writing the thesis De Dysphagia. Between 1798 and 1808 he shared the Chair of Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy at Edinburgh University with his father, assisting with lectures, although he visited Paris in the earliest years of this co-occupancy. From 1808 he began delivering the whole lecture programme and in 1817 became the Professor, succeeding his father who died that year. His published works include Observations on crural hernia (1811), Engravings of the thoracic and abdominal viscera (1818), Anatomy of the pelvis of the male and, Anatomy of the urinary bladder and perinaeum in the male (1842). Professor Alexander Monro, tertius, died in Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, on 10 March 1859.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of national biography. Vol.13. Masquerier-Myles. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1909.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes show references to other Monro, tertius, related material (check the Indexes for more details): a letter to Monro from G. H. Baird in the Laing Collection, at La.II.151; and, dealings with George Lawrie, resurrectionist, mentioned in a letter of Sir W. Rae, 1821, at Gen. 1429/18/2. In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes: lecture notes, Royal College of Surgeons of England, see Bridson, Natural history MS resources 1980; medical MSS, Exeter Cathedral Archives, see ASLIB Directory of Literary and Historical Collections 1993; and, correspondence and lecture notes, 1803-1835, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Ref. Monro NRA 16015 Coll of Physicians.