Robert Daun
Dr Robert Daun
Life
He was born in Insch in Aberdeenshire the eldest son of Rev George Daun (1750-1821),[1] the local minister, on 16 April 1785. He went to Elgin Grammar School and then studied Medicine at King's College, Aberdeen graduating MA in 1803. Having sat the relevant medical exams in London, in 1804 he received a commission as Assistant Surgeon (aged only 19) in the army and travelled to India to work there, aiding in the Second Anglo-Maratha War. He served first with the 22nd Light Dragoons then the 59th Foot.[2]
He returned to Britain around 1812 and received his MD degree from
He thereafter resigned from the Scots Greys and returned to
He was nomadic by nature living in London 1832 to 1835, St Andrews 1835 to 1839 and Aberdeen 1839 to 1861. In 1832 he was elected a Member of the Geological Society of London "but did not have any special devotion to geology" being a mathematician by nature.[5] Whilst in St Andrews, together with Robert Haldane and David Brewster, he was a founder of the St Andrews Literary and Philosophical Society in 1838.[6]
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1840, his proposer being Henry Marshall. He resigned in 1845 but (rarely) was re-elected in 1867. [7]
From 1861 onwards he lived in retirement at 6 Picardy Place at the head of Leith Walk in Edinburgh.[8]
He died peacefully at home in Edinburgh on 14 June 1871, aged 86.[9] He is buried in Dean Cemetery in west Edinburgh. His wife, Helen Jamieson (d.1892), lies with him.[10] The grave lies midway alomh the "Lords Row" section on the west side of the cemetery.
Family
Robert's brother, James Daun MA MD, also trained as a surgeon. He served as Rector of Westmoreland School in Jamaica.[11]
References
- ^ The Scots Magazine, vol 88, 1821
- ^ British Medical Journal, 1871: obituaries
- ^ "Munks Roll Details for Robert Daun". Munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ British Medical Journal, 1871: obituaries
- ^ The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, Spring 1873
- ^ "University of St Andrews Special Collections | Archives Catalogue". Pacific.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Microsoft Word - oldfells_list_jun06.doc" (PDF). Royalsoced.org.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory, 1869-70
- ^ Medical Times and Gazette, 1 July 1871
- ^ Charles Sale. "Request a grave monument image". Gravestonephotos.com. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ Bones of Empire, by Brian J Orr