James Gregory, professor in the University of Edinburgh

The accompanying text in the volume begins as follows:

"DR JAMES GREGORY, the son of Dr John Gregory, sometime Professor of Medicine in King's College, Aberdeen, and afterwards in the University of Edinburgh, was born in the former city, in 1753, and received the earlier part of his education at the grammar school instituted by Dr Patrick Dun. In consequence of his father's removal to Edinburgh in 1765, he subsequently studied at the University there, and took his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1774. He then repaired to Leyden, where he attended the lectures of the celebrated Gobius - the favourite student and immediate successor of the great Boerhaave.

Dr John Gregory died in 1773, before the education of his son had been completed; and, according to a previous arrangement, Dr Cullen succeeded to the Practice of Physic. From this period the Professorship of the Institutes of Medicine was kept open, by various means, till 1778, when Dr Gregory, then only in his twenty-third year, was appointed to the vacant chair. Although young, he was eminently qualified for the situation, from the extent of his acquirements and his own natural talents. Of this we need no better proof than is afforded by his text-book, "Conspectus Medicinae Theoretica ad usum Academicum," which he published a few years after obtaining the professor-ship, and which procured for its author a high professional character throughout Europe.

In 1790, on the death of Dr Cullen, Dr Gregory was elected Professor of the Practice of Physic, and successfully maintained the reputation acquired by his predecessor. His success as a teacher was great; and his class was, during the long period he filled the chair, numerously attended by students from all parts of the world. He also held the appointment of first Physician to his Majesty for Scotland."