Our history – 425 years of the Royal College

The physician co-founder of the College, very little is actually known about him.

It is believed that he studied medicine in the Low Countries, returning to Scotland in 1594. For most of the first 20 years of the College's existence he was its most senior officer bearer, known as Visitor.

Physicians looking to be licensed to practice in the West of Scotland had to satisfy Robert Hamilton that they had the appropriate professional ability.

Famously known as the ‘man-midwife’, Smellie is hailed as one of the 18th century’s leading experts on obstetrics.

Smellie was one of the first to base midwifery in science and invented several tools to assist with the delivery of children – including a pair of iron forceps. His book ‘Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery’ (first published in 1752) was hailed as a milestone in how it described the mechanism of parturition. This was followed by his 1754 book that contained 39 engravings by Dutch artist Jan van Rymsdyk. His belief was that this book would help young practitioners understand obstetrics without lots of unnecessary details.

Perhaps one of his greatest innovations, however, was the Mauriceau–Smellie–Veit maneuver: a procedure that helped deliver babies in breech cases.

The College's first female Fellow, Sen obtained her medical degree in 1897 at Calcutta Medical College and joined us as a Fellow in 1912.

She practiced in Nepal between 1899 and 1909, where she served as court surgeon to the Nepalese Royal Family. In 1911 she was awarded a scholarship with the Lady Dufferin Foundation. This allowed her to travel widely, where she expanded her skills as surgeon and eventually obtained a further medical license in Dublin.

She became a Fellow of the College in 1912, after passing the fellowship exam as a surgeon. It was only in 1911 that the Royal College began to allow women to sit the examinations necessary to obtain fellowship. However, she was not allowed to hold office in the College and therefore her privileges as a fellow were restricted compared to her male counterparts.

Wax seals have long been used as way to legitimise documents. Even to this day, legislation is still given its formal authority through a great seal made of beeswax.

Not only does our 1599 Charter from King James bears his authority through a royal wax seal, but countless College documents through time will have them too. From the very first document creating the College to Diplomas issued today, wax seals have constantly had a presence. That’s why to mark our 425th year, our marque is a wax seal.