William Fordyce facts for kids

Sir William Fordyce (1724 – 4 December 1792) was an important Scottish doctor. He was known for his medical work and for helping his family.

Sir William Fordyce: A Scottish Doctor

Early Life and Education

William Fordyce was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1724. His father, George Fordyce, was a leader in Aberdeen. William had a brother named David Fordyce.

William went to Marischal College to study. He also trained to be a doctor with a local doctor and later with his brother John. His mother, Janet Blackwell, came from a family of scholars.

A Career in Medicine

In 1744, William became a member of the Medical Society in Edinburgh. He then joined the army as a surgeon during the War of the Austrian Succession, which ended in 1748. He served in three campaigns, helping soldiers who were injured.

After the war, he traveled and studied in France. By 1750, he was in Turin. While still connected to the army, he started his own medical practice in London. His brothers were becoming famous, which helped him meet important people.

In 1770, he earned his M.D. degree from Cambridge University. He later joined the Royal College of Physicians in 1786. King George III made him a knight in 1787, so he became "Sir William Fordyce." In the same year, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a group of top scientists.

Important Contributions and Legacy

Sir William was very supportive of his family. He helped his brother Alexander Fordyce with his business. When Alexander faced difficulties, William helped carry the financial burden, including losses from his brother James Fordyce.

The Society of Arts gave him a special gold medal. This was for his work on rhubarb, a plant he studied for its medical uses.

Sir William Fordyce passed away in London on 4 December 1792, when he was 68 years old. At the time of his death, he was the head of Marischal College. He left £1,000 to the college, which was a large sum of money back then.

His Written Works

Sir William Fordyce wrote several books about medicine. All his works were published in London:

• A New Inquiry into the Causes, Symptoms, and Cure of Putrid and Inflammatory Fevers (1773). This book was about different kinds of fevers.
• The Great Importance and Proper Method of Cultivating and Curing Rhubarb in Britain for Medical Uses (1784). This book explained how to grow and use rhubarb for medicine.
• Fragmenta Chirurgica et Medica (1784). This was a collection of his surgical and medical notes.
• Letter to Sir John Sinclair on the Virtues of Muriatic Acid in curing Putrid Diseases (1790). In this letter, he discussed using muriatic acid for certain illnesses.