Alexander Monro (1697-1767)

Founder of Edinburgh University's medical school

Alexander Monro was born in London on 8 September 1697. The family moved to Edinburgh in 1700. After studying in London, Paris and Leiden he returned to Edinburgh in 1719 and was appointed Professor of Anatomy in 1720. His work 'The Anatomy of Human Bones' (1726) became internationally renowned. He was convinced of the need to provide the city's poor with free medical treatment and to create a medical school for the university. In 1729 small rented premises were used for this purpose - a forerunner of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which was finally established in 1736. His efforts ensured Edinburgh was a centre of excellence for medical training. He continued to work for better treatment for all and published 'An Account of the Inoculation of Small Pox in Scotland' in 1764.

Marriage in 1725

Alexander Monro, Professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh married Isobel McDonald, daughter of the late Sir Donald McDonald of Sleat baronet. The entry in the Old Parish Register (OPR) for Edinburgh gives the date of proclamation of their marriage as 3 January 1725.

Proclamation of marriage entry for Alexander Monro (82 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 685-1/46, page 155

Death in 1767

Alexander (here abbreviated to Alexr) Monro, Professor of Anatomy, was buried on 11 July 1767. The entry in the Old Parish Register for Edinburgh - the record of interments in Greyfriars Burying-Ground, Edinburgh - gives the cause of death as old age.

Burial entry for Alexander Monro (14 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 685-1/95, page 204

Testament of Dr Alexander Monro senior

National Records of Scotland, CC8/8/120 pp 951-958

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