RCSI Heritage Collections

With the bicentenary of Sir William Wilde only around the corner, the RCSI Heritage Collections decided to look at another gifted eye and ear surgeon who lived, worked and taught in Dublin at the same time as Wilde. A major difference between these two characters was their levels of flamboyancy and it's because of this that Arthur Jacob is not as widely known as Wilde. Bust of Arthur Jacob by Joseph Robinson Kirk Arthur Jacob PRCSI 1837 and 1864 Arthur came from a medical family. His father, John, was Surgeon to Queen's County Infirmary and enjoyed a large practice while his grandfather, Michael, was also a surgeon. Arthur started his medical education be becoming indentured to his father in 1808. In 1811 he became a pupil of Abraham Colles in Steevens' Hospital. Like many other surgeons of the time, Arthur travelled to further his surgical knowledge. He went to the University of Edinburgh and graduated with an M.D. in 1814. The it was to London where he stud...

James Apjohn (1796-1886) was a renowned and respected chemist and physicist who lived and worked in Dublin during the 1800s. He was known internationally for his work on hygrometry and the Apjohn dewpoint. A mineral from Algoa Bay, South Africa, which proved to be an effloresced manganese alum was analysed and described by Apjohn to great acclaim. Subsequently it was named 'Apjohnite' in his honour. James Apjohn (1796-1886) Apjohn was born on 1st September 1796 at his father's property, Sunville, in Pallasgrean, Co. Limerick. He attended the Tipperary Grammar School for four years before entering Trinity College Dublin in 1814 under the tutorship of Rev. Dr. Wall. Apjohn graduated with a B.A in 1817 and took his degree of M.B in 1821. His debút as a lecturer on science took place in the Cork Institution in 1824. He continued lecturing throughout his career and was popular for his lucid style and well devised experiments. In some cases his lectures were so well at...