William Dick (veterinarian)
William Dick (1793 – 1866) was a Scottish veterinarian and founder of the Dick Vet School in Edinburgh, the first veterinary college in Scotland.[1] He is responsible for major advances in the field of veterinary science and the profession as a whole.
Life
He was born in White Horse Close on the Canongate on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on 6 May 1793. At this time in history this was quite a humble address. His father John Dick was a young farrier who had moved south from Aberdeen with his young wife, Jean.[2]
He was educated by the Rev J Robinson at Paul’s Work, a small complex of buildings where Waverley Station now stands. His higher education was at Mr Keeson’s School in Shakespeare Square (at the east end of Princes Street).
In 1815 the family moved to a courtyard off a back lane in the New Town, Edinburgh, 15 Clyde Street, now replaced by Edinburgh Bus Station.[3]
The following year he began extra-mural classes, studying anatomy under Dr John Barclay and quickly fell in love with this field. He remained friends with Barclay until his death. Due to his background he decided to combine his love of horses with his love of anatomy and at Barclay’s suggestion travelled to London late in 1817, to specifically study as a veterinary surgeon under Edward Coleman in Camden Town. The study here was brief and he received his Diploma in January 1818 after only three months.
He returned to Edinburgh to begin his own veterinary college, based at his father’s courtyard. After a slow start (only 4 students in 1819) greater progress began to be made. The course consisted of two lectures per week for 23 weeks. It covered the anatomy and diseases of a range of larger animals, largely farm stock plus dogs. He also encouraged students to attend extra-mural anatomy lectures at the Medical School within Edinburgh University. The college expanded to absorb other buildings on Clyde Street over the next twenty years.[4]
The process was executed in liaison with the Highland Society, who at the end of the course, issued a certificate (following an oral examination) to say the student was competent to practice “the veterinary art”.
After much fame and success Queen Victoria appointed him as Veterinary to the Queen in 1842.
By his death in 1866, 818 students had been taught and were practicing around the planet.
He died on 4 April 1866 and was buried in New Calton Burial Ground overlooking his original birthplace and family home just to the south. The grave lies just to the north-east of the central crossing of the main paths, facing west. His will stipulated that his fortune on death must be held in trust and used to continue to run the college.
Following his death the college was briefly run by Col James Hallen, but Hallen was obliged to travel to India to tackle an outbreak of cattle plague. In May 1867 William Williams took over as principal.[5]
Legacy
In 1906 the College was officially named the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College by Act of Parliament. It was fondly simply referred to as the “Dick Vet”. In 1916 it moved to a purpose-built new home at Summerhall in the South Side of Edinburgh, which had been built 1913-1915, with some disruption due to the First World War.[6] It became part of the University of Edinburgh in 1951. In 2011 it relocated outside the city to the Easter Bush campus next to the Roslin Institute.
Artistic Recognition
A portrait of 1851 of William Dick by Tavernor Knott is held by Edinburgh University.[7]
Other Positions Held
- Justice of the Peace
- Moderator of the High Constables of Edinburgh 1842-3
- Lord Dean of Guild for Edinburgh, 1843-1845
- Deacon of the Guild of Hammermen
- Deacon Convenor of the Trades of Edinburgh
- Editor of The Veterinarian
References
- ↑ http://www.veterinaryhistorysociety.org.uk/EditorialVol14-3.pdf
- ↑ http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/vet/about/history/william-dick
- ↑ http://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/pageturner.cfm?id=83400195&mode=transcription
- ↑ http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/vet/about/history/clyde-street
- ↑ The New Veterinary College, Edinburgh, 1873 to 1904, CM Warwick and AA MacDonald
- ↑ http://www.summerhall.co.uk/about/a-brief-history-of-summerhall/
- ↑ http://artuk.org/discover/artists/knott-tavernor-18161890
