Benjamin Bell of Hunthill

Biographical Summary

Bell of Hunthill, Benjamin. 06/04/1749-08/04/1806. Ref: 129. Male.

• Place of Birth: Dumfries.
• Place of Death: Newington House, Edinburgh.
• Place of interment: Canongate Cemy. Edinburgh.
• Profession: Surgeon.
• Appointments Held: Surgeon's Clerk 1769-71, Surgeon 1772-1801, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, 1778-, Watson's Hospital, Private Practice, Edinburgh.
• Schools and Tutors: Dumfries Grammar School.
• Training: Apprentice to James Hill, Surgeon, Dumfries.
• Undergraduate Studies: Edinburgh University.
• Publications: "System of Surgery" 1778-88.
• Marital Status: Married (1774) Grizel Hamilton.
• Family: Sons George Bell FRSE 1777-1832, Robert Bell FRSE 1782-1861, William Bell, FRSE 1783-1849.
• Father: George Bell, farmer in Dumfriesshire.
• Other Family: Son-in-law of Robert Hamilton FRSE 1707-87. Great-grandfather of Dr Joseph Bell FRSE 1837-1911.
• References: DNB 4, 1885, 153-4; Chambers 1,199; Anderson, 1, 273; Shapin 36; B Bell "The Life,Character & Writings of Benjamin Bell", Edinburgh 1868; S Devlin-Thorp Scotland's Cultural Heritage, 1 1981; W P Anderson 1931, 538-9.
• Memberships: FRCSE(1771), Highland Society.
• Date of Election: 17/11/1783.
• Proposers: Founder Member.
• Service to the RSE: Councillor 1786-96.
• Edinburgh Philosophical Society: Residential.
• Notes: "Father of the Edinburgh Surgical School".
• Fellow Type: OF.

Benjamin Bell, his son, grandson, and great grandson were all surgeons.

SOURCE: Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Biographical index of former fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783-2002: Biographical Index. I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. page 73

Other References

• Wikipedia contributors, "Benjamin Bell", Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.