Alexander Monro

Alexander Monro of Craiglockhart and Cockburn (22 May 1733 – 2 October 1817) was a Scottish anatomist, physician and medical educator. He is typically known as or Junior to distinguish him as the second of three generations of physicians of the same name. His students included the naval physician and abolitionist Thomas Trotter. Munro was from the distinguished Monro of Auchenbowie family. His major achievements included, describing the lymphatic system, providing the most detailed elucidation of the musculo-skeletal system to date and introducing clinical medicine into the curriculum. He is known for the Monro–Kellie doctrine on intracranial pressure, a hypothesis developed by Monro and his former pupil George Kellie, who worked as a surgeon in the port of Leith. Life Alexander Monro, the third and youngest son of Isabella Macdonald of Sleat, and Alexander Monro Primus was born at Edinburgh on 20 May 1733. He was sent with his brothers to Mr Mundell's school, where he learned the rudiments of Latin and Greek, and showed early evidences of great ability. Among his school-fellows were Ilay Campbell who was afterwards Lord President of the Court of Session and William Ramsay of Barnton, the banker. Monro's father decided to make him his successor and sent him to the University of Edinburgh when he was 12 years old, to attend the ordinary course of philosophy before beginning his professional training. He studied mathematics under Colin Maclaurin and ethics under Sir John Pringle. He was also a favourite of Matthew Stewart, Professor of Experimental Philosophy. He showed an interest for anatomy and after entering on the medical course, aged 18, he became a useful assistant to his father in the dissecting room. He attended the lectures of Drs Rutherford, Andrew Plummer, Alston and Sinclair. He possessed an insatiable thirst for medical knowledge, an uncommon share of perseverance, and a good memory.