Prof. Daniel Rutherford

Biographical Summary

Rutherford, Daniel. 03/11/1749-15/12/1819. Ref: 1323. Male.

• Place of Birth: Edinburgh.
• Profession: Physician, Chemist, Botanist.
• Appointments Held: Physician 1775-86 in Edinburgh; Professor 1786-1819, Medicine and Botany, Edinburgh University and Keeper of Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Physician 1791, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary; King's Botanist in Scotland 1786-.
• Schools and Tutors: Mundell's School, Edinburgh.
• Undergraduate Studies: MA (Edinburgh).
• Postgraduate Studies: MD (Edinburgh 1772).
• Marital Status: Married (1786) Harriet Mitchelson of Middleton.
• Mother: Anne Mackay.
• Father: Professor John Rutherford 1695-1779.
• Other Family: Uncle of Sir Walter Scott FRSE 1771-1832.
• References: DNB 50, 1897, 5-6; Edin. Phil. J. 3, 1820, 183; Anderson 3; Shapin 410; S Devlin-Thorp Scotland's Cultural Heritage 1, 1981.
• Memberships: FRCPE (1777,President 1796-8), FLS (1796), FSA(Scot), Harveian Society (President 1787).
• Date of Election: 17/11/1783.
• Proposers: Founder Member.
• Service to the RSE: Councillor 1789-96, Councillor (Physical) 1812-15.
• Edinburgh Philosophical Society: Residential.
• Notes: Recognised nitrogen as a constituent of the atmosphere.
• Fellow Type: OF.

SOURCE: Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Biographical index of former fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783-2002: Biographical Index. II. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. page 812