Christopher Irvine

Christopher Irvine of Bonshaw (c. 1620–1693) was a Scottish physician and surgeon who was the first medically qualified member of the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh. A prolific author, he became historiographer to King Charles II and to King James II and VII. Early life and education Christopher Irvine of Bonshaw was born around 1620 as the son of Christopher Irvine of Robgill Tower, Annandale, a barrister of the Temple and member of the Irvine family of Bonshaw, Dumfriesshire. Irvine matriculated at the University of Edinburgh but was expelled for initially refusing to sign the National Covenant in 1638. For a time he resorted to school teaching at Leith and at Preston, but after being reinstated he graduated MA in 1645. He appears to have graduated in medicine before this date, since, in the list of graduates in arts from the University of Edinburgh in 1645 he was designated "Medicinae Doctor" indicating that he had probably obtained a medical degree from a university in continental Europe. Irvine was admitted to the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh in 1658.