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Another two decades of RCSI Roll of Licentiates now available

The RCSI Heritage Collections are delighted to announce that another two decades of the Roll of Licentiates, years 1870 to 1890, are now available online

A well known licentiate and Fellow of the College who graduated in 1877 and whose signature can be see in the newly released Roll of Licentiates documents is John Freeman Knott (1853-1921).

Signature of John Freeman Knott in the RCSI Roll of Licentiates May 1877

Knott was a prolific author of medical reviews and articles, producing over 2,000 from 1880 to 1920. The variety of topics touched on by Knott ranged from Jonathan Swift's death mask to matted hair specimens to spontaneous combustion! Many medical historians and Knott's own contemporaries would use the word 'eccentric' to describe him. Legend has it that Knott was seeking entrance to the College through the front door in 1916 as he wanted to continue research he was conducting. He was unaware that a revolution was happening in the streets of Dublin and around the College and through the front door being opened to him inadvertently let the rebels enter the College.

The John Freeman Knott Papers are currently being catalogued in the Heritage Collections hopefully once completed this will shed more light on to the character of this 'eccentric'.

- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy