Royal Medical Society facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | RMS |
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| Formation | 1737, Royal Charter 1778 |
| Purpose | Medical student society, educational and social |
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The Royal Medical Society (RMS) is a group run by students at the University of Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland. It says it is the oldest medical society in the United Kingdom. Another group, the Society of Apothecaries (started in 1617), also claims to be the oldest. The RMS helps medical students and doctors learn more about medicine and supports them in their studies and careers.
History of the Society
The Royal Medical Society began in 1737. It was first called 'the Medical Society'. In 1778, it received a special document called a Royal Charter. This charter officially recognized the society and gave it special rights.
The idea for the society started even earlier, in 1734. A group of students were studying human bodies in an anatomy room. They decided to form a group to learn more together. Some of these early students included Dr. Cleghorn, Dr. Cuming, and Dr. James Kennedy.
For many years, the RMS had a very large library. It was filled with books collected in the 1700s and 1800s. In 1969, the society sold these books at three sales in London. Much of the collection was bought by the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States.
Res Medica Journal
Res Medica is a special magazine published by the Royal Medical Society. It first came out in 1957. This makes it one of the oldest magazines in Britain that is completely run by students.
The Society Today
The RMS has its own rooms above Potterrow Student Centre. This is part of the Edinburgh University Students' Association building. It is located on Bristo Square in Edinburgh.
During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is a big arts festival, the RMS rooms are used for performances. They also host a special bar for performers and VIPs. The buildings and land owned by the society are managed by the RMS Trust. This trust is a charity, which means it helps people and does not aim to make a profit.
The daily activities of the society are managed by the RMS Council. This council includes a Senior President, three Junior Presidents, and 11 other leaders called Conveners. Each Convener is in charge of a different part of the society's work.
Famous Members
Many important people have been members of the Royal Medical Society. Here are some of them:
- Thomas Harrison Burder
- William A.F. Browne, who worked to improve mental hospitals.
- Robert Cleghorn, an early leader of the society.
- Andrew Combe
- James Crichton-Browne, a psychiatrist.
- William Cullen, one of the people who helped start the society.
- Charles Darwin, a famous scientist known for his work on evolution.
- Andrew Duncan, the elder, a doctor who was President six times.
- William Collins Engledue, who studied phrenology.
- Benjamin Franklin, a famous American inventor and statesman.
- Marshall Hall, a physiologist who was Senior President in 1811.
- Francis Home, the first Professor of Materia Medica.
- Matthew Kaufman
- Joseph Lister, a pioneer in sterile surgery.
- Drummond Shiels, a Fellow and Senior President.
- Sir John Struthers, a doctor and anatomist.
- Stuart Threipland, a doctor for Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie).
- Jozef Venglos
- Hewett Watson, an evolutionary thinker and friend of Charles Darwin.
- German Sims Woodhead, a former President.
See also
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Surgeon's Hall
- University of Edinburgh Medical School
