Alexander Russell (naturalist)

Alexander Russell (c. 1715 – 25 November 1768) was a Scottish physician and naturalist,^[1] spending 14 years at the English factory in Aleppo.

Early life

Russell was born in Edinburgh in 1715, the son of lawyer John Russell. He was the half-brother of Patrick Russell^[2] He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and after graduating with an MD, went to London in about 1734.

Aleppo

Russell sailed to Aleppo in 1740, having been appointed physician to the English factory there. He became the city's chief medical practitioner, through gaining the confidence of the local pasha. In 1754 he returned to England and two years later published his The Natural History of Aleppo, with a diary of the progress of the plague in 1742–1744.^[3] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1756.^[4]

St Thomas's Hospital, London

In 1759 he was elected to fill a vacancy at St Thomas' Hospital in London. He remained in that role until his death on 25 November 1768.

Publications

Russell's written works include:

Testamen Medicum et Medicastrorum audacitate. Edin. 1709, 8vo.
The Natural History of Aleppo. Lond. 1756, 4to. 2d edition revised, enlarged, and illustrated with Notes, by his brother, Patrick Russell, M.D. Lond. 1794, 2 vols. 4to. This valuable history has been translated into different European languages.
Of a remarkable Marine Production. Phil. Trans. 1762, Abr. xi. 635. Vorticella Ovifera Lin.
Letter describing the Scammony Plant. Med. Obs. And Inq. i. p. 12, 1755.
Account of two Paralytic Cases. Ib. p. 296.
Cases of Lues Venerea cured by a solution of Corrosive Sublimate. Ib. ii. p. 88.
Of several Hydatids discharged with the Urine. Ib. iii. p. 146. 1767.
Experiments made with the Decoction of Mezereon in Venereal Nodes. Ib. p. 189.
Case of almost universal Emphysema. Ib. p. 397.
An Essay on his Character. Lond. 1770, 4to.

References

^ A general biographical dictionary, Volume 3 by John Gorton (H. G. Bohn, 1833).
^ The life and viper of Dr Patrick Russell MD FRS (1727–1805): Physician and naturalist by B. J. Hagwood (1994)
^ Munks Roll: Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Alexander Russell (Royal College of Physicians, 1768)
^ "Fellow details". Royal Society. Retrieved 26 January 2016.

[1] A general biographical dictionary, Volume 3 by John Gorton (H. G. Bohn, 1833).

[2] The life and viper of Dr Patrick Russell MD FRS (1727–1805): Physician and naturalist by B. J. Hagwood (1994)

[3] Munks Roll: Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Alexander Russell (Royal College of Physicians, 1768)

[4] "Fellow details". Royal Society. Retrieved 26 January 2016.

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