GREGORY (Dr John), professor of medicine in the university of Edinburgh, was born in May 1725. His father was professor of medicine in the King's-college, Aberdeen; and his grandfather was professor of mathematics, first at St Andrews, and afterwards at Edinburgh. Thus Dr Gregory was the third professor of his family in a lineal descent. But it deserves to be remarked, that from his great-grandfather David Gregory, esq; of Kinairdy in Aberdeenshire, he was the 15th descendant who had held a professorship in a British university.
Dr Gregory began the study of medicine at Aberdeen; which he afterwards prosecuted, first at Edinburgh, next at Leyden, and then at Paris. In the 20th year of his age he was elected professor of philosophy in king's-college, Aberdeen; and had, at the same time, the degree of doctor of medicine conferred upon him. In the year 1756, upon the death of his brother Dr James Gregory, who had succeeded his father as professor of medicine, he was elected to that chair. But about the beginning of the year 1765, he left Aberdeen, and came to Edinburgh. Soon after this he was appointed professor of the practice of medicine in the university there, in the room of Dr Rutherford, who resigned in his favour. The year following, upon the death of Dr White, he was nominated first physician to his majesty for Scotland. Thus, at the time of his death, besides very extensive practice, he enjoyed the highest and most important offices in the way of his profession, which could be obtained in his native country.
These distinguishing honours were universally allowed to be the just reward of singular merit. Of this the writings which he published will bear ample testimony to future ages. His first publication, which is entitled, A comparative view of the faculties of man with those of the animal world, made its appearance in 1765. This production, while it demonstrates the author to have been a philosopher whose reflections were just and original, at the same time displays a liberality of sentiment seldom to be equalled. Such was the avidity with which it was read, that in the space of two years it went through four editions; and, while it was perused by all with peculiar pleasure, it was honoured by those distinguished for taste and literature with high approbation.
In the year 1770, a second work of Dr Gregory's made its appearance; but without his consent, and even contrary to his inclination. His preliminary lectures on the practice of physic were heard by his pupils with universal satisfaction. From a copy of these lectures taken down in short-hand, there was published a book entitled, "Observations on the duties and office of a physician, and on the method of prosecuting inquiries in philosophy." Although these lectures were not intended for the press, and did not pass through the finishing hand of the author before they were presented to the public; yet such was
Gregory. the matter they contained, that, had they appeared in a much worse dress, they could have done him no discredit. In these lectures, by the most forcible arguments, he laboured to convince his pupils, that a physician who studies the principles of his profession, who has an extensive acquaintance with every branch of natural knowledge, and who properly applies his knowledge, must have an infinite advantage, as a practitioner, over one who is ignorant of the theory of medicine, and of every science connected with it. He endeavoured to persuade them, that genius and sense, which indeed are the peculiar gifts of heaven, are yet capable of high improvement; and that, without improvement, they can be but of little account either to the public, or to an individual. In short, no argument was omitted which could prompt them to study medicine with attention and ardour, and afterwards to practise it with prudence and humanity.—Dr Gregory, however, was dissatisfied with the dress in which this work appeared. Soon after, therefore, he published an edition of it himself, in which his former sentiments are set off with all the advantages which can be derived from a correct and elegant style. His last publication, Elements of the practice of physics, was intended as a syllabus to his lectures; and in it he meant to have comprehended all the diseases of which he usually treated. But not having leisure to finish the whole, he was obliged to stop at those diseases which are usually reckoned febrile. Although this work appears with all those disadvantages, under which every text must labour; yet it sufficiently shows how the author thought and acted in the exercise of his profession. The world was deprived of this excellent person in February 1774. He left behind him a small, but inestimable production, under the title of A father's legacy to his daughters, designed for their private instructions; but rendered a common bequest by the benevolence of his eldest son, who gave it to the public after his death. The maxims and advices it contains, which are classed under the general topics—of religion, of conduct and behaviour, of amusements, of friendship, love, and marriage,—are as just as they are important; and appear to be the dictates of a mind which had long been inviolably attached to the interests of virtue; the results of an observation equally interesting, extensive, and mature. They are delivered in a style which is simple and unadorned; yet chastened with that elegance and correctness which result from the operations of a mind habitually governed by a refined taste, and the clearest judgement.
Had Dr Gregory lived to a more advanced age, the world would probably have been favoured with other works no less honourable to the author than beneficial to mankind. But his extensive practice, and his zeal in his duty as a professor, occupied the greatest part of his time.
To pretend to enumerate the many advantages which his pupils derived from him in the capacity of a teacher, would exceed our limits. Let it suffice to say, that, from the extent of his views, from the justice and importance of his observations, and from the force and accuracy of his reasoning, every hearer obtained the most thorough conviction of his abilities, and retired from academical labours both pleased and
instructed.
To conclude: Dr Gregory was not more eminent as a physician, than he was amiable and respectable as a man. With the mathematical genius of his family he united a correct taste for the fine arts, and a high relish for every social virtue. He possessed a clear and vigorous understanding; a chaste and lively imagination; and an affectionate and feeling heart: and while he was distinguished for paternal and conjugal attachment, he was a constant friend to poverty and distress, and an unwearied patron of science and virtue.