Papers of Dr John Burns

Diploma of Fellowship of the Glasgow Faculty of Medicine, 1850; prescription, 1897; poem relating to portrait of Dr Burns, 1899; newspaper obituary, 1910.

Dr John Burns was born in Perth in 1815. When he was about 5 he lost both his parents and was sent to live with his paternal grandfather, a farmer who lived near Methven. He later returned to Perth as an apprentice to a tailor. Dissatisfied with his prospects he then tried teaching and obtained a post as a school teacher in Coaltown, Wymess, Fifeshire. In 1838 he resigned his post and came to Glasgow with the intention of entering the Church, but later turned his attention to Medicine. He studied at Anderson’s College and Portland Street School both in Glasgow and became a licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1846 and was elected a Fellow of the Faculty in 1851. He practiced in the Bridgeton district of Glasgow. At the age of 64 he lost much of his fortune in the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank. He continued in practice until within two years of his death. He held office as Visitor of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons and on his death left a legacy of £1000 for an annual prize to students in the faculty of medicine.

Obituary in Glasgow Medical Journal, Volume 73, 1910

Access to some items may be restricted. Please contact Heritage staff at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Descriptive list available at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

RCPSG 1/8 John Burns Fund 1910-1968.