Alexander Monro, tertius

Born 1773-05-11
Died 1859-03-10

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Scottish physician, born November 5, 1773, Edinburgh; died March 10, 1859, Craiglockheart, near Edinburgh.

Biography of Alexander Monro, tertius

Alexander Monro, tertius, was last in line of the famous Monro dynasty. He received his M.D. from Edinburgh in 1797, then studied in London under Wilson and in Paris, returned to Edinburgh in 1800, and in that year was appointed conjointly with his father. Because of his father's illness Alexander tertius gave the entire course beginning in 1808 and became sole professor in 1817. He retired from his chair in 1846.

Alexander tertius was an uninspired anatomist who did not rank with his father or grandfather as a teacher or scientist, choosing instead to make use of the notes handed down to him but adding little original work. None of the works of tertius were of lasting value. Charles Darwin is quoted as saying that he "made his lectures on human anatomy as dull as he was himself".

See also:
Alexander Monro, primus, 1698-1767.
Alexander Monro, secundus, 1733-1817.

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