William Buchan

William Buchan was born at Ancrum, where his father had a small estate, in 1729. His early education was at Jedburgh Grammar school and even from an early age demonstrated a keen interest in medicine, acting as a novice village physician. Buchan entered Edinburgh University in 1749 with his family pressuring him to enter the ministry. Buchan shifted his focus to medicine, then botany and finally medicine, after nine years at the university. Upon leaving university, Buchan opened a small practice in Yorkshire in 1759 before being appointed as a physician at the Foundling Hospital in Ackworth, Yorkshire. There he wrote his MD thesis, which was published in Edinburgh in 1761. In 1760 Buchan married Elizabeth Peter a lady of the Dundas clan, one of the most noble clans of Scotland. Together they had a daughter and two sons. His son, Alexander Peter Buchan, was born in Sheffield in 1764 and later followed his father into medicine.

In 1762, Parliament stopped funding foundling hospitals and so Buchan moved to Sheffield where he set up a medical practice. Buchan returned to Edinburgh in 1766, where he again established a private practice and lectured on Newtonianism and natural philosophy.

In 1769, Buchan published what would become his most famous work, Domestic Medicine. It initially cost six shillings and the first 5,000 copies printed quickly sold out, there were at least 142 separate English language editions and it was published in almost every major European language. Catherine the Great was so impressed with Buchan she sent him a medal and commendatory letter. Buchan became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1772.

In 1778 he announced his candidacy for the position as chair of the Institute of Medicine upon the death of John Gregory; however, he lost the election. He later that same year he moved to London, whilst there Buchan published several other minor works, practicing there until his death on 25 February 1805. He is buried in the cloisters of Westminster.