He was born in Tulliallan, Kincardine November 20, 1768
and died in St. Petersburg on March 2, 1854. He bequeathed his vast
fortune to the People of Russia with instructions that they use it to
built a Hospital. The hospital was built and still bears his name. A
huge statute of him still stands in the courtyard of the hospital.
Doctors visit back and forth until this day. In fact, A group of Doctors
from Greenock are going there at the end of January and will be
delivering yet another paper on Sir. James - and - lucky me - I am
going with them...!!!!
The people of Kincardine also have plans to honour their "Son of the
Soil" ; arrangements are now underway to erect a plaque in his memory -
perhaps in the Old Kirkyard there on the old wall which once was the
School he attended as a child.
There is much on the Internet about him but here
follows a bit of an outline on his early years in Russia. Sir James
Wylie was private Physician to 3 Czars in succession and ever so much
more.
From the Concise Dictionary of National
Biography:
WYLIE (Sir James (1768-1854), physician; MD,
King's College, Aberdeen,
1790; entered Russian service as senior surgeon in
Eletsky Regiment,
1794; physician to imperial court at St Petersburg,
1798; surgeon-in-ordinary to tsar and physician to heir-apparent, the
Grand Duke Alexander,
1799; founder,
1804, and president,
1804-34, of Medical Academy of St Petersburg and
Moscow; inspector-general of Army Board of Health,
1806; director of medical department of Ministry of War,
1812; physician-in-ordinary,
1814, to Tsar Alexander I, whom he accompanied to England, being
knighted by Prince Regent; published medical works.
........ from a book, quote .... In 1840
on the Anniversary of The Battle of Borodino, a medal
was struck by the Emperor Nicholas bearing on one side a profile of Sir
James Wylie. From the site of the Battle, where celebrations were being
held, the Emperor wrote to Sir James, now in his 73 year, "I cannot but
call to mind the services which you rendered on that memorable epoch
when, at the head of the Corps of medical and surgical officers of the
Army, you yourself ceased not to give a grand example of zeal and
self-denial for the welfare and relief of the suffering warriors."....
........From another writing "Scots doctors made an
extraordinary contribution, directing Russian medical bodies, publishing
novel essays and practising modern methods of treatment.
Probably the most eminent of them was James Wylie, who rose
from regimental surgeon to personal doctor of three Emperors,
President of the Medico-Chirurgical Academy and Russia’s sole baronet."
.......
Enokhin took an active part in the construction
of Mikhailovian clinical hospital
by the will of Ya.V.Wylie (Sir James Wylie,
Bart)
(he was his teacher`s will executor) and in the
erection of the monument to Ya.V.Wylie.
In his speech at the monument unveiling Enokhin
said:
........ “The monument to Wylie will make deep
moral impression on young pupils of the Academy, will inspire them
with enthusiasm, they will become inflamed with new diligence in
studying one of the most important branches of human knowledge and
will serve an example of how one must fulfill high mission of the
physician and to serve faithfully his sovereign and
Fatherland”........
There is more detail and a useful bibliography in
John H Appleby, "Through the Looking Glass: Scottish doctors in Russia
(1704-1854)"
And in 'The Caledonian Phalanx: Scots in Russia' (Edinburgh: National
Library of Scotland, 1987, pp 47-64).
His Coat of Arms This entry from Burke's 'General Armory'
WYLIE [Bart., extinct 1854; Sir James Wylie,
first Physician to the late Emperor of Russia,
was so created 1814, and d.s.p].
Az. a bend ar. betw. a fox pass. in chief and two mullets in base of the
second,
on a chief of honourable augmentation or, the imperial eagle of Russia.
Crest
A Cossack on horseback at full speed holding a spear fessways ppr.
Supporters
Two Russian foot soldiers sustaining by the exterior side a gun with
bayonet fixed ppr.
Motto
Labore st scientia.
And a Few Lines written by me and my Sister <:))
SIR JAMES WYLIE, BARONET
Wily by Nature - Wylie by Name
Our Uncle James Wylie of Historical fame.
Born there in Scotland in a wee Seaside Town
He ventured to Russia to become quite Renown
Personal Physician to Three Czars in succession
Immortalised now by the Medical Profession.
With no more than a Scalpel and a Prayer up to God
He treated the wounded as they lay on the Sod
He rebuilt the Hospitals and ran them with Skill
Rewrote the text books and took charge of the ill.
‘Though he lived a grand life in the Palaces there,
Of grandeur and riches, he showed little care,
A Soldier, A Surgeon, this was his Life
Never time for a family or a pretty young wife.
He was Knighted at Ascot with his Czar by his side
Family came down to share in his Pride
He lived a Good Life and thought always of Others
Convinced as he was that the World were all Brothers
He envisioned a Grand Hospital in his adopted Homeland
So as he lay dying, took his pen in his Hand
And Bequeathed his vast Fortune for this worthy cause
He died thinking of others and not the Applause
So standing to-day in St. Petersburg’s town
You’ll still the Vision of this Scot of renown
The Hospital was built and still bears the Name
Of our Uncle James Wylie of Historical Fame
By
Frances and Barbara Neish
written
July 2002
