Robert Campbell (?1640-1709)
ED.CS.2010.47
Campbell, Robert (?1640-1709). FRCSEd 1701. Portrait in oil in oval gilt frame, circa 1701. Artist: Medina, John Baptiste de (1659-1710).
Campbell was ‘Chirurgeon to His Majesty's Regiment of Guards’. He was commissioned on 29th May 1696 and again in 1705. A standing army was first introduced in the reign of King Charles II and the ‘Third Scots Foot Guards’, or Scots Guards, to which Campbell and John Baillie before him were attached was one of the original regiments.
When William came to the throne, Ireland was openly hostile and Scotland threatened a rebellion under Claverhouse, or ‘Bonny Dundee’. English forces were sent to Scotland to secure the peace and to protect it from invasion. In 1698 although the country was no longer at war it was considered prudent for the safety of the kingdom to maintain the Forces for another two years and money was granted, not without protest, a standing army in time of peace being unpopular. Each regiment had one surgeon and one surgeon's mate.
On the completion of the new Hall in 1697 Campbell presented ‘a fine pair of Shottles (drawers) for containing the Materia Medica’ to the Library.
Campbell married Katherine, daughter of Hugh Broun in 1700. They lived in a house adjoining Trinity College Church near the Trinity Hospital physic garden.
18th century
