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the families from which this physician descended are of ancient and honourable standing in the south of Scotland. His father was Sir John Pringle, Bart., of Stichell, and his mother was sister to Sir Gilbert Elliott, of Stobs, who also enjoyed the same rank.

He was born in 1707, at Stichel House, in the county of Roxburgh, and after an early education by a private tutor under his father's roof, was removed to the university of St. Andrews. After a residence here of some years, he went to Edinburgh, in 1727, with the view of studying physic, the profession which he was now resolved to follow. Another account supposes, that after he had studied at Edinburgh, he was intended for commerce, and was sent to Amsterdam to further that object; and that, while in Holland, his mind received an accidental direction towards medicine from hearing a lecture, at Leyden, delivered by Boerhaave, which made a particular impression on his mind. It appears certain that he remained only one year at Edinburgh, and then hastened to avail himself at Leyden of the closing labours of the illustrious Boerhaave, who was then considerably advanced in years, and whom a longer delay might have finally precluded him from hearing : nor were the instructions of that great master