Old Photograph Royal Victoria Hospital Edinburgh Scotland

Old photograph of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Victoria Hospital for Consumption was founded by Robert William Philip on the site at Craigleith in 1894. In 1904 it became the Royal Victoria Hospital for Consumption with King Edward VII giving patronage. Sir Robert William Philip, born 29 December 1857, died 25 January 1939, was a pioneer in the treatment and control of tuberculosis. He was the son of Reverend George Philip, minister of the Union Church in Govan, Glasgow, and his wife, Margaret Josephine Robertson. He was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1882 and receiving his doctorate in 1887. In 1889 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Sir Thomas Grainger Stewart, Sir William Turner, Robert Flint and David James Hamilton. He served as the Society's Vice President from 1927 to 1930. He married Elizabeth Motherwell in 1888, and Edith McGaw in 1938. For much of his life, he lived at 45 Charlotte Square, one of Edinburgh's most exclusive addresses. During World War I, he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Scottish Second General Hospital in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He died in 1939 and is buried in Grange cemetery in Edinburgh. The grave lies on the main eastern path, not far from the entrance. His wife Edith Josephine McCaw lies with him.



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