RCSI Portrait Sculpture and Bust Collection

Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel married Victoria in 1840. As Prince Consort he played an active part in the issues of the day, either directly or indirectly. He was a strong believer in promoting education and from 1847 he was Chancellor of Cambridge University. He was also interested in improving the condition in which the lower classes lived and in May 1848 he presided over a meeting of the Society for Improving the Conditions of the Working Classes. In 1849 Albert accompanied Victoria on a State visit to Ireland and while in the country showed an interest in both agricultural and local institutions such as RCSI. Permission was sought and subsequently granted for RCSI to obtain a copy of the last bust of the Prince Consort executed by William Theed during the Prince’s lifetime. The original is in the Royal Collection.

3 Greek deities on the pediment of 123 St Stephens Green. Asclepius- Greek God of Healing Athene- Greek Goddess of War and Wisdom Hygeia- Greek Goddess of Health and Medicinal Remedies. Commissioned in 1827 and sculpted by John Smyth.

O’Bryen Bellingham gained licentiateship of RCSI in 1828. He went on to lecture on Materia Medica in the Carmichael School in 1839, the Ledwich School in 1836 and also for a time in the reopened Eccles Street School. Within RCSI he was member of the Pharmacy Court of Examiners for several years, and in 1850 he became a Surgical Examiner. From 1842 to 1850 he was Professor of Botany. From 1854 until his death he was the College Librarian and he also served for a time as secretary to the Surgical Society. His reputation rests on this treatises cure of Aneurysm by Compression, published in 1847 and Diseases of the Heart which abounded with original observations.

Born in Dublin 1830, Cameron received his licentiateship in RCSI 1874 and the Fellowship in 1893. He went on to become Professor of Hygiene in RCSI and Chair of Chemistry. In 1885, the same year that he received his Knighthood, he served as President of RCSI and the following year his History of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was first published. Besides his teaching posts in RCSI Cameron lectured on Chemistry and Physics in Dr. Steevens and the Ledwich Hospital Schools. He held many Honorary Memberships including the Royal Hibernian Academy, where for a time he acted as Professor of Anatomy. However, Cameron is best remembered today for his contribution to improving standards of public health in Ireland in his capacity as Medical Officer of Health for Dublin from 1879 to 1921.

Carlise Williams gained his licentiateship in RCSI and was apprenticeship to Abraham Colles. He was a Member of RCSI, lectured on Chemistry in the Park Street Medical School. Elected onto the first RCSI Council, a seat which he held until his death.

Abraham Colles’ medical training started at Dr Stevens Hospital and the Foundling Hospital. He also spent time studying at the House of Industry Hospital before obtaining his Letters Testimonial from RCSI in 1795. Colles then travelled to Edinburgh University where he was conferred MD in 1797. Colles returned to Dublin and taught Anatomy and Surgery in rented rooms at the rear of a house in South King Street. During his residency at Dr. Steevens Hospital, Colles taught anatomy and surgery in the Hospital School. He resigned his post when in 1804 he was appointed Professor of Anatomy in RCSI having become a member of the College. Within RCSI Colles held the Chair of Surgery and the Chair of Anatomy and Physiology. He was elected to the Court of Assistants in 1800 and President of RCSI in 1802. Among Colles’ anatomical discoveries are the ‘Colles ligament’, the ‘Colles Fascia’ and the ‘Colles Fracture’.

Abraham Colles’ medical training started at Dr Stevens Hospital and the Foundling Hospital. He also spent time studying at the House of Industry Hospital before obtaining his Letters Testimonial from RCSI in 1795. Colles then travelled to Edinburgh University where he was conferred MD in 1797. Colles returned to Dublin and taught Anatomy and Surgery in rented rooms at the rear of a house in South King Street. During his residency at Dr. Steevens Hospital, Colles taught anatomy and surgery in the Hospital School. He resigned his post when in 1804 he was appointed Professor of Anatomy in RCSI having become a member of the College. Within RCSI Colles held the Chair of Surgery and the Chair of Anatomy and Physiology. He was elected to the Court of Assistants in 1800 and President of RCSI in 1802. Among Colles’ anatomical discoveries are the ‘Colles ligament’, the ‘Colles Fascia’ and the ‘Colles Fracture’.

Philip Crampton began his professional studies at the Meath and Mercer Street Hospitals. In 1798 he passed at RCSI as a Surgeons Mate but did not see much active service. He was soon appointed Surgeon to the Meath Hospital where he succeeded William Dease. He continued his studies in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London and graduated from Glasgow University with an MD. Crampton was elected Member of RCSI in 1801 and a few month later was elected to the Court of Assistants. In 1804 he had his home in Dawson Street fitted out with a dissecting room and lecture theatre. He taught anatomy and surgery there until 1813, thus establishing the first private medical school in Dublin. He was four times President of RCSI, serving in 1811, 1820, 1844, 1855. During his lifetime he received many honours including the Fellowship of the Royal Society. He was Surgeon-in-Ordinary to both George IV and Queen Victoria and was a member of the Senate of both Queens and London University. He was also President of the Zoological Society of which he was a founding member.

James William Cusack obtained his licentiateship from RCSI in 1812. He was elected a Member of RCSI in 1814 and in 1840 and 1859 respectively he obtained his Degrees of MD and MChir from Trinity College Dublin. Cusack was Resident Surgeon to Dr Steeven’s Hospital for twenty one years and also held posts at Swift’s Hospital, the City of Dublin Hospital, the Rotunda and St Mark’s Hospital. He was President of RCSI three times in 1827, 1847 and 1852. In 1852 he was appointed Professor of Surgery in Trinity. He was one of the founders of the Park Street Medical School, where he held the post of Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Surgery. He was also one of the six foundation Presidents of the Dublin Pathological Society.

William Dease was educated in Dublin and Paris. Settling in Dublin he devoted himself to obstetrics bu later would confine himself to surgery. He was one of the original members of the Dublin Society of Surgeons and was instrumental in the founding of RCSI. He contributed towards the expenses of obtaining the first Charter of the College in 1784 and subsequently when the College was in need of money to finance the construction of a building Dease was extended an interest fee loan. In 1785 the Chair of Surgery was created by RCSI and Dease was given the position. It was the first chair devoted entirely to surgery. The statue was commissioned by Sir Charles A. Cameron on behalf of Mr Mathew O’Rielly Dease, grandson of William Dease. The statue was unveiled by the Countess of Aberdeen in 1886.

John Denham followed a teaching career in the private schools in Dublin, giving lectures on anatomy in Marlborough Stree, Park Street and Carmichael Schools. FRCSI. PRCSI. The bust was offered to RCSI by Mrs Louisa Denham, widow of late John Denham to RCSI. Bust was exhibited in the National Gallery of Ireland's exhibition: It Took a Century: Women Artists and the RHA to commemorate 250 years of the RHA Gallery.

John Stannus Hughes was indentured to Abraham Colles in 1830 and studied in the College School and in Steevens' and Jervis street hospitals. He was elected RCSI Member in 1844. Graduated MD in Queens University in 1864. Hughes was surgeon to Jervis street hopsital and he Convalescent Home and was a lecturer in the Ledwich School. He was many years surgeon to the Lord Lieutenant's household and was for a long period Secretary to the College Council. He was RCSI Professor of Surgery 1863-1884.

Hans Irvine graduated MB and MA in Dublin University in 1833. He was apprenticed to C H Todd in 1823 and after his master's death he was transferreed to Richard Carmichael. In 1830 he gained his RCSI Licentiatship and was eleceted RCSI Member in 1837. He commenced as a teacher and established the Anatomical School in Marlborough street. He was RCSI President 1857-58. In 1882, the RCSI Council accepted this plaster bust presented by his nephew Mr W H Irvine of Enniskerry.

Arthur Jacob (1790-1874) Indentured in 1808 to his father John Jacob (surgeon at the Queen's Co. Infirmary, Maryborough), entered RCSI in 1811, was a pupil of Abraham Colles at Dr Steevens' Hospital Dublin and received his RCSI licentiatship in 1813. He became Member of RCSI in 1816 and established himself in private practice as an ophtalmologist. An outstanding figure in the Irish School of medicine, he contributed to research, medical education and the organisation of the profession. He founded the Park St School of Medicine with Robert Graves and went on to become Professor of Anatomy in RCSI (1827-1867). An active member of RCSI, he was a Council member, nominated censor and elected Presidnet (1837, 1864). He founded the Charitable Institute for the Cure of Diseases of the Skin and Eye, the Opthalmic Hosptial on Balfe St which was transferred to the Royal City of Dublin Hospital which Jacob helped to found too. He founded the Dublin Medical Press with Henry Maunsell and in later years founded the Irish Medical Association with Richard Carmichael. The bust was commissioned which instituted the commemorative Arthur Jacob open medical scholarship.

Marble bust of King George V