Old Photograph Burnbraes Biggar Scotland

Old photograph of a mill and cottage at Burnbraes by Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. John Brown, a Scottish physician and essayist, was the son of the clergyman John Brown, and was born in Biggar. His mother, Jane Nimmo, died when he was only six. Brown was educated at the Edinburgh High School and graduated as M.D. at the University of Edinburgh in 1833, and practised as a physician in that city. He was descended from eminent Presbyterian clergymen. After graduating MD in 1833 he was apprenticed, to James Syme. Brown subsequently acquired a very large medical practice in Edinburgh at a time when infectious diseases took a heavy toll of life. He was a very sociable man, and his house at 23 Rutland Street was the scene of many social gatherings. In 1840 he married Catherine Scott McKay. They had three children, a baby who died shortly after birth, a daughter, Helen, who was to marry Captain Alexander Laws, and a son Jock Brown. Helen Laws moved to Ireland but outlived her father. Brown was the friend of many contemporaries, including Thackeray and Mark Twain. His writings were philosophical, classical, artistic, medical, of rural life, the Jacobite Rebellion, notable characters, humble folk and canine friends. Brown suffered during the latter years of his life from attacks of melancholy. He died at home at 23 Rutland Street in Edinburgh, on 11 May 1882, and was buried in his father’s plot in New Calton Cemetery.



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