“Sir James M’Grigor, Bart., K.C.B.” by Matthew Noble (1817-76)

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Sir James M’Grigor, Bart., K.C.B

Matthew Noble (1817-76)

1865

Source: Illustrated London News

Complete caption: “Sir James M’Grigor, Bart., K.C.B.. Late Director-General of the Army Medical department,” by M. Noble. Erected at Cgelsea barracks.”

“This statue of the late Sir James M’Grigor, Bart., K.C.B., Director-General of tho Army Medical Department, of which we give an Illustration, is from the studio of Mr. Noble, and is admirable, both as a work of art and is a faithful and pleasing like-ness. We may also congratulate the committee on having secured for it a most appropriate site, fronting the newly-erected barracks of the Guards at Chelsea, with the hospital in the rear, where a few old veterans still linger and talk over the storm of Badajoz and the glories of the Peninsular; and where it will fitly perpetuate the memory of one whose whole life was spent in the service of the soldier, and whose aim and reward was the simple performance of his duty.

“A short memoir of Sir James M'Grigor, whose unobtrusive but useful service, extending over sixty years, raised him, unaided by influence, to the highest post in his profession, may not be uninteresting. Ho was a native of Aberdeen, and entered the Army, as surgeon of the 88th (or Connaught Rangers), in 1793. The scene of his first experience was in Hol[l]and. under the Duke of York; then in the West Indies, where the yellow fever Witt decimating our troops. His next tour of service was to Ceylon and Bombay, whence he crossed the desert with Sir D. Baird's force to join the army under Sir R. Abercrombie in Egypt, a campaign memorable as the first in which a gleam of success dawned on the British arms.” [continued below]

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The Illustrated London News article continued

There his administrative energy and medical experience successfully overcame the ravages of the plague, which threatened the very existence of the army; and it was his good fortune to make the acquaintance of Baron Laney, the surgoon-in-chief to the French army, a man of kindled spirit with his own, and as much distinguished for his talents as for his humanity. Between these two men the only rivalry was which could most alleviate the sufferings entailed by war and extend the resources of medical science. After a few years of home service, though by no means of inactivity, Sir James was specially called on to undertake the charge of the hospitals at Walchcren, where fever had stricken down tho greater part of the English troops: even into that gloomy scene of suffering his administrative capacity, aided by the most devoted services of the whole medical staff, introduced method and comparative relief; and the evidence he afterwards gave before the House of Commons, on the Walcheren inquiry, was both so lucid and instructive, and also so modest and dignified, that his value was at once recognised, and when the Duke of Wellington wrote from Spain that it was necessary for ‘the most active and intelligent officer to be sent out,’ Sir James M'Grigor was unhesitatingly selected. There the Duke intrusted to him the unfettered direction of the arrangements for the sick and wounded, and it is hardly too much to say that by his methodical organisation many thousands were restored to the ranks who would otherwise have been lost to subsequent battles; and that thus he contributed, in his degree, to those marvellous victories which are the pride and glory of British history, and amply justified the wisdom of his appointment and tho confidence of his great commander. Nor was the Duke slow to acknowledge his merits; for he paid to him this singular tribute of praise, the more remarkable as coming from one so calm and reserved as was the Duke of Wellington: — “I consider (he wrote to Lord Bathurst) Mr. M‘Grigor one of tho most able of public servants.”

The Peninsular War over, with its fatigues, its dangers, its anxieties, its glories, Sir James becamo the Director General of the Army Medical Department, over which he presided nearly forty years, introducing many improvements and raising tho standard of medical efficiency. He attracted to the service men of a higher social position and more scientific attainments. It might be supposed that a life of such uninterrupted activity, many years of which were spent in scenes of danger and anxiety, would leave little time for study. But Sir James was the author of several most useful works. He also founded a museum at Chatham and two institutions for the benefit of the widows and children of medical officers. His eminent services were appreciated by the country: he was created a Baronet and Knight Commander of the Bath; he was a member of the Royal Society and other scientific bodies, and three times Rector of the University of Aberdeen. The personal attachment of the officers of his own department was evinced by the presentation to him of a valuable service of plate; a portrait (by Wilkie), placed in the museum at Chatham; another presented to Lady M‘Grigor, with a feeling address, at the time of his retirement from office. He died, in 1858, at the ripe age of eighty-eight; and we are happy to think that this monument will perpetuate the memory of so useful and laborious a public servant, and stimulate, we trust, younger men to walk in the same path of simple duty.

This statue has been erected by subscription among the military and medical friends of the late Director General — Surgeon-Major Wyatt, of the Coldstream Guards, having originated the subscription, and being the honorary secretary and treasurer of the committee.

Bibliography

“Statue of the Late Sir James M’Grigor.” Illustrated London News (28 October 1865): 428. Internet Archive version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 22 January 2016.

Last modified 22 January 2016