James Borthwick

James Borthwick of Stow (1615-1675) was a Scottish surgeon who was the first teacher of anatomy in the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh. He was Deacon (President) of the Incorporation on two occasions and a member of the Scottish Parliament. Borthwick was largely responsible for the formal creation of the surgeon-apothecary in Edinburgh. Early life and admission to the Incorporation of Surgeons James Borthwick inherited the estate of Stow south of Edinburgh. He served his apprenticeship as an apothecary and was admitted to the Incorporation of Surgeons in 1645 without first having served a surgical apprenticeship, an unusual event at that time. It is likely this exception was granted because the membership of the Incorporation had been reduced by plague. The College minutes of 7 December 1646 record that he was admitted 'through ye decrease of certain masters in ye common visitation.' It seems likely that his admission was arranged specifically so that he could teach anatomy to the surgical apprentices, the first member to have this responsibility. Surgical career Borthwick's duties included performing anatomical dissections for the instruction of apprentices. His admission and appointment as anatomy teacher appear to have been facilitated by Alexander Pennycuik with whom he had served as a surgeon with the army overseas and who was Deacon of the Incorporation at the time of Borthwick’s appointment. This was the first time that the Incorporation had designated a specific teacher of anatomy.