Online Exhibitions/Resources

Portraits from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Boardroom

These portraits were originally located in the Board Room of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh site at Lauriston Place. They capture aspects of the history of the hospital in a number of interesting and sometimes suprising ways. Their lives were as different from one another as they are from our's today. Their assumptions about health, sickness, living and dying were not the same as our's. However, what they do have in common with us is a shared involvement, great or small, with the Royal Infirmary, one of the oldest in terms of its foundation (1729) and history, and now one of the most modern in terms of the new building located in the Little France district of Edinburgh.

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1. James Hamilton, the elder (1749-1843), Physician-in-ordinary to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 1775-1823.  Portrait by John Watson Gordon (1778-1864), dated 1824. 2. George Drummond (1687-1766), one of the Infirmary's first managers and main fundraiser.  Portrait by John Alexander (1687-1766), dated  1752. 3. John Hill (c.1747-1805) & Son.  Portrait in the style of Raeburn, dated c. 1801. 4. Duncan Vertue (1799-1883), 19th Century benefactor.  Portrait by William Smellie Watson (1796-1874), dated c. 1870. 5. George Vertue , brother of Duncan Vertue, 19th Century benefactor.  Portrait by William Smellie Watson (1796-1874) dated c. 1870. 6. Margaret Vertue, sister of Duncan Vertue, 19th Century benefactor.  Portrait by William Smellie Watson (1796-1874) dated c. 1870.