George Fordyce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Fordyce
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| Born | 18 November 1736 Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Died | 25 May 1802 (aged 65) London, England
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| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen University of Edinburgh |
| Scientific career | |
| Academic advisors | William Cullen |
George Fordyce was an important Scottish doctor, teacher, and chemist. He was born on November 18, 1736, and passed away on May 25, 1802. He was a member of important groups like the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Fordyce was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1736. His father, also named George Fordyce, owned a small estate nearby. Sadly, his father died shortly before George was born.
When he was two years old, George moved to Foveran after his mother remarried. He went to school there. Later, he attended the University of Aberdeen. He earned his Master of Arts degree when he was just 14 years old.
Becoming a Doctor
George decided he wanted to study medicine. He became an apprentice to his uncle, Dr. John Fordyce, in Uppingham. After this, he went to the University of Edinburgh. He earned his M.D. degree in 1758. His special paper was about catarrh, which is like a bad cold.
He then traveled to Leiden to study anatomy. Anatomy is the study of the body's structure. He learned from a famous anatomist named Bernhard Siegfried Albinus.
Career as a Physician and Teacher
In 1759, George Fordyce returned to England. He decided to live in London and work as a doctor and teacher. Even though some of his family didn't agree, he stuck to his plan. By the end of 1759, he started teaching classes on chemistry.
In 1764, he began teaching about Materia medica. This is the study of medicines and how they work. He also taught about how to practice medicine. He gave these lectures for almost 30 years.
Important Roles and Clubs
In 1765, he became a member of the Royal College of Physicians. This group is for doctors. In 1770, he was chosen to be a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital.
He joined the famous Literary Club in 1774. In 1776, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists. In 1778, he became a full Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. They wanted his help with a new edition of their Pharmacopoeia, which is a book of medical recipes.
In 1783, he helped start a group for doctors and surgeons. This group published several books about medical knowledge. George Fordyce went to their meetings regularly until he became very ill.
Unusual Dining Habits
George Fordyce was known for being a bit unusual. He ate only one meal a day. He always ate at the same time and in the same place.
He would eat a large amount of rump steak. While his steak was cooking, he would have a smaller dish. This might be half a cooked chicken or a plate of fish. He ate very quickly, as if he was in a hurry to get back to his patients.
He would spend about an hour and a half eating his meal. Then, he would go back to his house to teach his chemistry class at six o'clock. He did not eat again until his meal the next day.
Family Life and Passing
In 1762, George Fordyce married the daughter of Charles Stuart. They had four children together, two sons and two daughters. His daughter, Mary Sophia Fordyce, married Samuel Bentham. Samuel was the brother of the famous philosopher Jeremy Bentham.
George Fordyce passed away in London in 1802. He had health problems related to gout. He was buried at St Anne's Church in Soho.
