Carswell , Sir , Robert , 1793-1857 , Knight , physician and pathologist

Carswell was born in Paisley, Scotland, on 3 February 1793. He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow where he was noted for his skill in drawing. He spent 2 years working at hospitals in Paris and Lyons, 1822-1823. He then returned to Scotland and took his MD at Marischal College, Aberdeen, in 1826, before returning to Paris. In about 1828 he was nominated by the Council of University College London to be Professor of Pathological Anatomy there, but before starting teaching duties he was commissioned to prepare a collection of pathological drawings. He remained in Paris till 1831 when he had completed a series of two thousand water-colour drawings of diseased structures. He then came to London and undertook the duties of his Professorship. Soon afterwards, he was also appointed physician to University College Hospital; however he never practised and embarked on preparing a great book on pathological anatomy. This book was published in 1837 as 'Illustrations of the elementary forms of disease'. Later in life he became unwell and in 1840 he resigned his Professorship and accepted the appointment of physician to the King of the Belgians. Carswell spent the remainder of his life in Belgium, being occupied in official duties and charitable medical attendance on the poor. He was knighted in 1850 by Queen Victoria. He died on 15 June 1857.