Arnott, Neil (1788-1874)

12 autograph letters dated from 1828-1849. These consist of:

1 page from 27 Feb 1833 concerning his book Elements of Physics (8655/2); another addressed to Dr. Robert Willis (1799-1878) R.C.S., from Bedford Square, London, and dated 8th Sep 1840 (the letter introduces the Swedish Dr. Boeck). (8655/5); a letter addressed to Richard Owen (1804-1892) R.C.S. (the famous naturalist and Hunterian Professor of Comparative Anatomy 1836-56), from Bedford Square, London, and dated 21 May 1842, introducing Dr. Knoblock, a Russian physician (8655/7); one letter addressed to Dr. Robert Willis R.C.S., from Bedford Square, London and dated 30 May 1843, introducing Mr Afzelius, a Swedish gentleman wishing to see the Hunterian Museum (8655/8); 1 letter addressed to Richard Owen R.C.S. from Bedford Square, London and dated 12 Aug 1847, introducing the South American Dr. Sarmiento of Santa Fe (8655/9). There are 7 further letters, including 2 undated (8655/11-12).

1828-1849

1 file

Purchased from Stevens, London, November 1931 (acc.68279); Purchased from Glendining, London, August 1934 (acc.67906) and (acc.67900). Purchased from Mrs. Watson, Burnley, March 1945 (acc.72200), presumably once part of the Thomas Madden Stone autograph collection; Accession details not known for (acc.92291).

Neil Arnott (1788-1874) was not only a physican, scientist and public health reformer but also a linguist, lecturer, author, and inventor. He was born at Arbroath in Forfarshire, Scotland, to the manufacturer-farmer William Arnott. Arnott began to study medicine at Marischal College, Aberdeen, but moved to St George's Hospital in London as a student in 1806. Shortly after he took up a surgeon position with the East India Company in 1807 and travelled to China twice. In 1811 he establshed a private practice in Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, London, and not until 1814 did Arnott obtained a full MD from Marischal College, having been awarded a diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons the previous year. Most famously he was a founding member of the University of London in 1836 and a original memeber of the Senate. He was also appointed physician to Queen Victoria in 1837 and elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1838.

Online Archives and Manuscripts catalogue.