Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/46

74 the famous Dr Boerhaave. On the 31st of August, 1725, he obtained the degree of doctor of medicine from the university of Leyden; on which occasion he published his inaugural dissertation "De Epilepsia," which did him much credit. Soon after this, he returned home, when he -received, from the university of St Andrews, a second diploma as doctor of medicine, bearing date the 23d of January, 1727. On the 7th November of the same year, he was admitted a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Dr Cunningham, for he still bore the name of his father, soon after these distinctions had been conferred on him by his countrymen, undertook a tour through Europe.

His immediately elder brother, Sir William Dick, having died without issue, Dr Cunningham succeeded, in terms of the entail, to the estate and name of his mother, and the baronetcy of his brother, Sir William; whereupon he left Pembrokeshire and took up his residence at Prestonfield. Although he had now determined to discontinue the practice of his profession, still he took an active interest in promoting the study and knowledge of medicine in Scotland. In the year 1756, he was unanimously chosen president of the college of physicians of Edinburgh. As a testimony of the high sense which his professional brethren entertained of his services, a portrait of him was, by a unanimous vote, hung up in their hall.

Sir Alexander Dick did not confine his patriotic exertions to the advancement of his own profession, but took an active share in every undertaking which he conceived likely to prove beneficial to the city of Edinburgh or its neighbourhood. In particular, the citizens were much indebted to him for the improvements which he effected in the highways around the metropolis.

Sir Alexander was twice married—in April, 1736, to his cousin Janet, daughter of Alexander Dick, merchant in Edinburgh, by whom he had five children, but two daughters only survived him; and in March, 1762, he married Mary, daughter of David Butler of Pembrokeshire, by whom he had seven children. Three sons and three daughters of the latter marriage survived him. Having attained the 83d year of his age, with faculties unimpaired, he died on the 10th of November, 1785; and his death, notwithstanding the very advanced age he had reached, was generally lamented as a loss to society. He was of a kind and amiable character, and remarkable for the mildness and sweetness of his disposition, and for the unwearied zeal and activity with which he promoted the advancement of medical knowledge in Scotland, as well as the improvement and welfare of his native city.

DICK (the Reverend), D.D., an eminent divine of the Scottish Secession church, was born at Aberdeen on the 10th October, 1764. His father, the reverend Alexander Dick, a native of Kinross, was minister of the Associate congregation of Seceders in that city.

Of the earlier years of Dr Dick little more is known than that he distinguished himself at the grammar-school. On entering the university, in October, 1777, when in his thirteenth year, he obtained a bursary in King's College, having been preferred to competitors of long standing.

Dr Dick entered on his university course in King's College, which he had been induced to prefer to Marischal's, on account of the advantages to be derived from the bursary which he had obtained. Here he studied humanity under professor Ogilvie, Greek under Leslie, and philosophy under professor Duubar, and on 30th March, 1781, he took the degree of A.M.

On the arrival of the period when it became necessary for him to choose a profession, he determined on devoting himself to the ministry in connection with the Secession, but to this resolution many of his friends were opposed; Borne of whom pressed him to join the Scottish establishment, others the Epis-