RCSI Heritage Collections

RCSI’s Charter Day Meeting marks the Annual Commemoration of the granting of our Royal Charter by King George III in 1784. An important event in the College calendar, Charter Day Meeting sees a range of events, lectures and talks culminating in the annual Charter Day Dinner held in College Hall. A facsimile of the document is on permanent display in the main entrance way of 123 St. Stephen’s Green, and gives people a chance to see the wonderful details of this extremely unique and important document. The RCSI Royal Charter of 1784 Studying the document as a physical object allows us to expand on the history surrounding the Charter. First of all, you will see that it is made of two full parchment skins. While this is a typical format for charters in Europe since medieval times, such documents vary structurally in small ways and the RCSI Charter has some notable features. At a glance, you will notice how the Charter is physically put together. The first (rearmost) skin is turned o...

The RCSI Heritage Collections has recently digitised the RCSI Examinations Register from 1784 to 1803 (RCSI/LIC/01/02). The 12 folios list alphabetically the names of those who have been examined in the RCSI for Letters Testimonial, Mateship, Army Surgeon, Surgeoncy, Army Mate, Navy Mate, Assistant Surgeon and to be a ranked mate to a ranked officer. Find the full register on our website. RCSI/LIC/01/02 pg.1 RCSI/LIC/01/02 pg.2 - Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was established by the Charter granted by King George III on 11 February 1784. This date is the highlight of the College year and its celebration has a long tradition.This years annual RCSI Charter Day Dinner is taking place in the College this Saturday 8th of February. Shortly after their incorporation in 1784 the members of the College revived the practice of dining together, which had been instituted by the Society of Surgeons. The Society of Surgeons was a fore-runner of RCSI and had petitioned for this very charter. Over the centuries various events in RCSI were celebrated with dinners and banquets, but in 1901 the meeting of the College to dine together was formalised by a Council resolution that an annual College dinner be held. By 1910 it was decided that the annual dinner be known as the ‘Charter Day Dinner’, and that it be held on February 11, or as near that date as possible.   To have been granted a royal charter made all the...