John Adamson 1810-1870 and early photography at St Andrews

[摘要] John Adamson(1809-1870) was the eldest of 10 childrenborn to Rachel and Alexander Adamson, tenant of BurnsideFarm nearBoarhills, a few miles east of St. Andrews. Ifphotography had never been invented Adamson would still havebeen afigure of more than passing interest. His medicalstudies in Edinburgh took place against a background of Knoxthe Anatomist and the Burke and Hare scandal. His studentcontemporaries included James Y. Simpson and Charles Darwin;he studied in Paris around the time of the July revolution;he was aship's surgeon on a voyage to China; he helpedestablish theLiterary and Philosophical Society's Museumand remained its curator from its beginning in 1838 untilhis death in 1870. His obituaries aretestimony to hisdedication to medicine and his papers on sanitation are asimilar tribute to his commitment towardspublic health.Within weeks of Talbot'sdiscovery of PhotogenicDrawing, photography was on the Agenda of the Literary andPhilosophical Society in St. Andrews. Talbot's friendshipwith Sir David Brewster gave St. Andrews a major part toplay in the early history of photography with John Adamsontaking a leading role.Whether medicine orphotography was Adamson's majorinterest is a mootpoint but one feels very much thatAdamson was a doctor first and foremost and for this reasonit seemedappropriate to discuss at some length his medicalcareer. He was also a man of passionate interests however,2including chemistry and natural history and it would havebeensurprising had he not found photography an irresistiblechallenge.Inlooking at Adamson's photographic career the mainsource has been the Minute Book of theLiterary andPhilosophical Society which, where appropriate, has beenlinked tophotographic developments elsewhere. Photographicreferences from this volume areproduced in Appendix 1.Overall, it is hoped that this dissertation may servetoplace John Adamson in a clearer context with regard toboth his medical andphotographic career.

[发布机构] University:University of St Andrews;Department:Art History (School of)