Mr James Rae, Dr William Laing, and Dr James Hay

Category

Library Item

Item no

13610

Title

Mr James Rae, Dr William Laing, and Dr James Hay

Description

Two men face each other, between them is man holding the hand of a small girl wearing a striped dress and hat.

Artist / maker

Kay, John

Date

1786

Size

9.5 x 12 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

James Rae (17161791) Rae was the first surgeon appointed to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, on 7 July 1766, and he immediately began to give a series of lectures. Rae established the teaching of clinical surgery in the University. He died in 1791 and was buried in the family tomb in Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh.

William Laing (17641832) began as a bookseller specialising in secondhand material, particularly foreign books. His business was first situated at the head of the Canongate, but subsequently moved several times, eventually settling in South Bridge in 1805. From 1786 Laing issued annual catalogues. William Laing travelled abroad several times for stock, notably to Paris in 1793, Copenhagen in 1799 (to buy duplicates from the Royal Library), and France and the Netherlands in May 1802.

By the late 1780s Laing had also expanded into publishing.

Another business venture, financially very rewarding, was involvement in the establishment of the Commercial Bank in 1810, of which Laing became a director in 1825. Having moved home several times, Laing purchased Ramsay Lodge, a large house on Lauriston Place, in 1803. He died there on 10 April 1832, and was buried in the new Calton cemetery on 12 April 1832.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Coats

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh