James Borthwick

James Borthwick of Stow (1615-1675) was a Scottish surgeon who was the first teacher of anatomy in the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh. He was Deacon (President) of the Incorporation on two occasions and a member of the Scottish Parliament. Borthwick was largely responsible for the formal creation of the surgeon-apothecary in Edinburgh.

Early life and surgical career

James Borthwick inherited the estate of Stow south of Edinburgh. He was admitted to the Incorporation of Surgeons in 1645 without first having served an apprenticeship, an unusual event at that time. It is likely this exception was granted because the membership of the Incorporation had been reduced by plague.^[1] The College minutes of 7th December 1646 record that he was admitted 'through ye decrease of certain masters in ye common visitation.'^[2] It seems likely that his admission was arranged specifically so that he could teach anatomy to the surgical apprentices, the first member to have this responsibility. His duties included performing anatomical dissections for the instruction of apprentices.^[3] His admission and appointment as anatomy teacher appear to have been facilitated by Alexander Pennycuik with whom he had served as a surgeon with the army overseas and who was Deacon of the Incorporation at the time of Borthwick’s appointment.^[4]

This was the first time that the Incorporation had designated a specific teacher of anatomy.

He was responsible, jointly, with Thomas Kincaid for the act of the Town Council which, in 1657, brought the Surgeon- Apothecary into being in Edinburgh.^[5] Up until then the surgeons and apothecaries had different areas of practice, the surgeons being responsible for treating tumours, wounds, ulcers and fractures while the apothecaries were involved in dispensing medicines. After the 1657 Act it became possible to combine these skills as a surgeon-apothecary. This was ratified by Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1670.^[6]

James Borthwick was Deacon of the Incorporation from 1648 to 1651 and again from 1659 to 1661. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament representing Edinburgh. His portrait in the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is the oldest in the College. ^[7]

Addition lands and property around Stow we gifted to him in 1670, an event ratified by the Scottish Parliament.^[8]

Death and burial

Borthwick died in 1675 and is buried in Greyfriars Churchyard in Edinburgh, where his grave is marked by an imposing mural monument, erected by his son. This is almost four metres high and two metres wide and features in its centre a full size dancing skeleton carrying a scythe representing the King of Terrors, armed with the scythe of Father Time. Below the skeleton is a crown denoting righteousness. Below this is a carved skull and cross bones, while the side panels have carvings of surgical instruments. The Latin inscription is now no longer legible.^[9]

References