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James Gregory

James Gregory[1]

Male 1753 - 1821  (~ 68 years)

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  • Name James Gregory 
    Birth Jan 1753  Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _AMTID 132543252794:1030:194851487 
    _FSFTID KLG5-DZ8 
    _UID 51363D11D962E5DEA363D79B9A7CB24A5DF7 
    Death 2 Apr 1821  Saint Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Cause: Y 
    Burial Canongate Churchyard, Edinburgh, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I145857  World of Hyde
    Last Modified 2 May 2021 

    Father John Gregory,   b. 3 Jun 1724, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Feb 1773, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 48 years) 
    Mother Mary Forbes,   b. 6 Oct 1725, Aberdeen, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Nov 1734, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 9 years) 
    Family ID F49427  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Nellie Dykes,   b. 1764, Greenbrier, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Feb 1854 (Age 90 years) 
    Children 
     1. Mariah Gregory,   b. 1801, Of, Lewisburg, Grnbr, Vir Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1837 (Age 36 years)
     2. Jane Gregory,   b. 1804   d. 27 Jul 1852 (Age 48 years)
     3. Katherine Gregory Ronk,   b. 1807, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Mar 1872 (Age 65 years)
     4. Sallie Gregory Branham,   b. 1815, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Feb 1883 (Age 68 years)
    Family ID F49428  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Feb 2024 

    Family 2 Elenor Dyche,   b. 1772, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Va Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1854 (Age 82 years) 
    Marriage 1 Sep 1788  Grnbr. County Vrgn. (W. Vrgn. ), United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth Gregory,   b. 1789, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Nov 1871 (Age 82 years)
     2. Edward Gregory,   b. 1791, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Va Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     3. Eleanor Gregory,   b. 1793, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Va Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     4. James Gregory,   b. 1795, Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Va Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     5. Matthew Gregory,   b. 1796, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Mar 1857 (Age 61 years)
     6. Polly Gregory,   b. 1799, Lewisburg, Greenbriar, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Mar 1854 (Age 55 years)
     7. Sarah Gregory,   b. 1803, Of, Lewisburg, Grnbr, Vir Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Feb 1883, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
    Family ID F49429  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Feb 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Jan 1753 - Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 

    • Professor of Medicine

       

      GREGORY, JAMES, M.D., an eminent physician and medical professor, eldest son of the preceding, by his wife, the Hon. Elizabeth Forbes, daughter of the thirteenth Lord Forbes, was born at Aberdeen in 1753. He received his education partly at the grammar school instituted by Dr. Patrick Dunn in his native city, and after his father’s removal to Edinburgh, at the university there. In 1774 he took his degree as M.D., his thesis being ‘De Morbis Caeli Mutatione Medendis.’ Repairing to Leyden, he attended the lectures of the celebrated Gobius, the favourite student and immediate successor of the great Boerhaave. In 1776, when only twenty-three years of age, he was appointed professor of the theory of physic in the university of Edinburgh, and as a text-book for his lectures, he published in 1780-2 his ‘Conspectus Medicinae Theoreticae,’ in 2 vols., which soon became a standard work. In 1790, on the death of Dr. Cullen, Dr. Gregory was appointed to the chair of the practice of physic in the same university; the duties f which he discharged for thirty-one years with a lustre equal, if not superior to that conferred on the university by his immediate predecessor. He was distinguished for his classical attainments, and early directed his attention to the study of metaphysics. In his ‘Philosophical and Literary Essays,’ published in 1792, in two volumes, 8vo, he opposed the doctrine of fatalism maintained in Dr. Priestley’s work entitled ‘Philosophical Necessity.’ It is said that previous to publication he forwarded the manuscripts of his Essays to Dr. Priestley for perusal, but that the latter declined to read them, on the ground that his mind was made up, and that he had ceased to think of the subject.

            In controversies of a professional and temporary nature Dr. Gregory had an active share. In 1793 an anonymous work, reflecting on some of the professors of the university, having appeared, under the title of ‘A Guide for Gentlemen studying Medicine at the University of Edinburgh,’ he issued a pamphlet, in which he endeavoured to prove, by internal evidence, that it was the production of Dr. Hamilton, professor of midwifery, and his son who was afterwards his assistant. A paper warfare was the consequence, Dr. Hamilton, junior, having replied in a well-written pamphlet, in which he showed the groundlessness of the charge, as well as the unprovoked asperity of his accuser. To discover the author of the ‘Guide,’ law proceedings were instituted against the publisher, while Dr. Hamilton, on his part, raised an action against Dr. Gregory, for traducing his character. In 1800 he published a ‘Memorial addressed to the Managers of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, complaining of the younger members of the College of Surgeons being allowed to perform operations there.’ this was replied to by Mr. John Bell, surgeon; and the question engrossed for some time the whole attention of the medical profession of Edinburgh, In 1806 he entered into a warm discussion with the college of Physicians, in consequence of some proceedings on the part of that body which he considered derogatory to the profession.

            As a physician Dr. Gregory enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. His great eminence, and his high literary and scientific reputation, caused him to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and a member of the French Institute. Whilst returning from visiting a patient, his carriage was accidentally overturned, his arm broken, and his constitution severely injured. After being repeatedly attacked with inflammation of the lungs, he died at Edinburgh April 2, 1821, in his 68th year. The following is his portrait, in the uniform of the Edinburgh volunteers, taken by Kay in 1795:


      [portrait of Dr. James Gregory]

            Dr. Gregory was twice married, and by his second wife, a daughter of Donald Macleod, Esq. of Geanies, he had a large family. His eldest son, John, having been educated for the bar, was admitted a member of the faculty of advocates in 1820. Another son, Dr. William Gregory, was elected in 1839, professor of medicine and chemistry in King’s college, Old Aberdeen, where he remained till 1844, when he was appointed by the town council of Edinburgh to the chair of chemistry and chemical pharmacy in the university of that city. A younger son, Donald Gregory, was for several years joint secretary to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He was also secretary to the Iona Club, founded in 1833, the objects of which were to investigate and illustrate the history, antiquities, and early literature of the Highlands of Scotland; honorary member of the Ossianic Society of Glasgow, and of the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle on Tyne, and member of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of the North at Copenhagen. In 1836 he published a valuable work in one volume, entitled ‘History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland from 1493 to 1625; with a brief Introductory Sketch from 80 to 1493;’ dedicated to Lord Macdonald of the Isles. This work is important as forming one of the first attempts to investigate the history of the West Highlands and Isles, by the most careful examination of original documents, and the various public records, and it must prove essentially useful to every future writer on the history of the Highlands. He intended to have followed it up with another volume relating to the Central Highlands; he had also collected materials for a dissertation ‘On the Manners, Customs, and Laws of the Highlanders,’ but his death the same year put a stop to his designs. Mr. Gregory died in October 1836, in the prime of life. His valuable and extensive collection of documents came into the possession of the Iona Club, and several valuable communications by him were inserted n the ‘Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis,’ edited by that Club, and issued to the members in 1839.

            Dr. George Gregory, a nephew of the celebrated Dr. James Gregory, died at London in January 1853. He had been a distinguished member of the medical profession for upwards of forty years, and as long as thirty-five years physician to the Small-pox and Vaccination Hospital in London. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1839. He was also a physician to the Adult Orphan Asylum. He was the author of several valuable medical treatises on small-pox and vaccination, lectures on eruptive fevers, and the elements of medicine, &c.

            Dr. James Gregory’s works are:

            Dissertatio Medica de Morbis Coeli Mutatione Medendis. Edin. 1774, 8vo. 1776, 12mo.

            Conspectus Mecidinae Theoreticae in usum Academicum. Edin. 1780-2, 2 vols, 8vo. 3d edit. Enlarged and improved. Edin. 1788-90, 2 vols, 8vo. 4th ed. 1812, 8vo. 6th ed. 1818.

            Philosophical and Literary Essays. Edin. 1792, 2 vols. 8vo.

            Select parts of the Introduction to Dr Gregory’s Philosophical and Literary Essays; methodically arranged, and illustrated with Remarks by an Annotator. Lond. 1793, 8vo.

            Memorial to the Managers of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Edin. 1800, 4to.

            Cullen’s first Lines of the Practice of Physic; with Notes. 7th edit. 2 vols. 8vo.

            The Theory of the Moods of Verbs. Trans. Soc. Edin. 1790. Vol. Ii. 193.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1012] Sessions Web Site, James Gregory (Reliability: 3).
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