Scottish medics led the way when it came to exploring the most dangerous parts of the world.
And five very special ones have been honoured in a new book, Losing Sight of the Shore by Wendell McConnaha.
For one hundred years Scottish medical explorers were at the forefront of exploration within the British Empire, as exemplified by these five individuals.
This dominant role was facilitated by the convergence of four events, the unification of Scotland and England, the Scottish Enlightenment, Scotland’s unique method of preparing doctors and the need for a new type of explorer.
These events provided the men of Scotland with a trajectory that was quite different from their English counterparts.
Throughout the century of exploration, Britain concentrated on expanding its already extensive global empire and leading this movement were the men of Scotland.
Over half of the British explorers from this era were Scottish and often doctors who had received their training at Scottish universities. Those graduating from the University of Edinburgh outnumbered those from other Scottish universities by a ratio of almost 9:1.
Why were there so many Scottish doctors exploring a dangerous and unknown world and why were these medical explorers uniquely more qualified to lead this effort?
A key factor was that the British Imperial Century required a new type of explorer. Prior exploration had focused on finding new lands, establishing trade routes and creating colonies.
Although trade and profit were still significant considerations, new focuses like economic botany and voyages exclusively for the sake of science took precedence.
Losing Sight of the Shore shines a light on this most productive and adventurous era while providing detail and context about the people and the times in which they lived.
Although Losing Sight of the Shore profiles five medical explorers in detail, this is not a biography but a history which aims to understand and explain the ideology and philosophy of a group of Edinburgh-trained physicians and surgeons; and how their interaction within the political, cultural, intellectual and social context of the time helped define the British Imperial Century.
Published: 6th December 2024
UK Price: £18.99
ISBN: 978-184995-594-2
Format: 240 x 170mm, Paperback
Pages: 192 pages with photos, paintings drawings and maps
Losing Sight of the Shore – Scotland’s Medical Explorers 1825-1915
By Wendell McConnaha
Published by Whittle Publishing, part of Porto Press
Losing Sight of the Shore is available to buy on the Whittles Publishing website and on Amazon.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Book cover image courtesy of Whittles Publishing and photo of Edinburgh by Adam Wilson on Unsplash
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