Archibald Arnott
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Archibald Arnott (b. 18 April 1772, Kirconnel Hall, Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland - d. 1855, Kirconnel Hall, Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland) was a British Army surgeon best remembered as Napoleon's doctor on St. Helena, and who was present at the Emperor's autopsy.[1] He moved back to Ecclefechan in his retirement and he is burried in Ecclefechan churchyard.
He entered the British Army on 14 April 1795 and was posted to the 11th Hussars as Assistant Surgeon. Arnott was promoted to Surgeon on 23 August 1799. He followed his unit to Holland and was present at the storming of the entrechments at Krabbendam. He was later transefered to the XXth regiment at Minorca and was present at the storming of Alexandria. He continued to served with the XX Regiment at Malta, Sicily and Calabria and was present at the battle of Maida.
He continued to serve with the XX Regiment at Vimicra and in the retreat from the Battle of Corunna. He followed his unit in the Walcheren expedition where his corps was decimated by fever. In 1812, Arnott, served with Wellington in his campaigns until the end of the war, including the battle of Vittoria, in the Pyrenees and in India.
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[edit] Arnott and Napoleon
As the fourth and last of Napoleon's physicians on St. Helena, Arnott arrived, following his regiment in 1819 and on April 21, 1821 visited Napoleon in his professional capability. He quickly established excellent relations with the Emperor, becoming his most trusted doctor, and attending to him until his death. The Emperor was bedridden for some days as a result of persistent vomiting and Arnott prescribed potions, with no intital results, eventually presrcibing a sedative generally thought to be opium, which relieved the Emperor's symptoms. On 3 May, Arnott prescribed calomel for the Emperor's constipation, which cured him. Prior to his death, Napoleon ordered a snuff box brought to him and carved an "N" with a pen knife and presented it to Dr. Arnott. It later entered the possession of an Alan Cunningham.
[edit] The Emperor's Death and the Aftermath
On 3 May 1821 Napoleon gave instructions that should he become insensible, no English physician but Arnott was to touch him. He died on 5 May 1821, and Arnott attended his post-mortem.[1] The Emperor bequeathed Arnott six hundred Napoleons and the British government gave him a gratuity of 500 pounds.
[edit] Writings
After his retirement to Ecclefechan, Arnott acquired a collection of anecdotes of the period and wrote an "Account of the last illness, Decease, and Post-mortem appearances of Napoleon" in 1822. After the war, Arnott returned to his native parish and his estate of Kirconnel Hall. He was respected by his neighbors and is buried in Ecclefechan.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wilson, J.B.. "Dr. Archibald Arnott: surgeon to the 20th Foot and physician to Napoleon.". Brit Med J 3(5978): 293–295. (2 August 1975) Retrieved on 8 February 2007.
