Notes

Sir James Pitcairn, Inspector-General of Hospitals for Ireland, Chief of the house of Pitcairn, 22nd in descent, was born at Little Bedwin, Wilts 18^th July 1776.  He was the eldest son of the Rev Robert Pitcairn of that Ilk, Rector of Englishcome, Somerset, and of Denne Mallam, his wife.  James Pitcairn lived in London in his young days, was educated there, and then went to study at St George’s Hospital, he and Sir Benjamin Brodie being fellow pupils of Sir Everard Home.

He graduated at Edinburgh and became house surgeon at St George’s Hospital, prior to settling down to practice in London.  When there he was mentioned by Sir Everard Home as a promising young surgeon and nominated by him Staff surgeon to the Forces in Holland in 1799.  He then went to Holland.

Pitcairn was then sent to Sir Ralph Abercrombie’s fore in Egypt, where he served until the end of that campaign, and received a medal.  He returned to England in 1802, and was placed on the recruiting staff of Dublin, which he held until 1803.  On the 22^nd of October 1803, at the age of twenty-seven, he was appointed Deputy Inspector of Military Hospitals for Ireland, and the day following Deputy Inspector-General.

He married on the 24^th of September 1803, at Cheshunt, Harriet, who was born Feb 3 1774 youngest daughter of Charles James Dalbiac, of Chramount in Hertforshire, and Hungerford Park in Berkshire.  Her mother was Mr Dalbiac’s second wife (nee Miss Anne le Bas).   The Dalbiac's were descended from and Old French family.

In 1804, 1805, and 1808, Dr James Pitcairn was deputed to superintend the extensive encampments formed on the Curragh of Kildare, under Lord Cathcart and Sir Charles Aspill, during which time, until 1815, he was in medical charge of the Connaught district of Ireland.  In 1816, Pitcairn was transferred to Munster, and then to Cork.  When he left Athlone he was much regretted, and was presented with a beautiful service of plate.

In 1832 there was a dreadful outbreak of cholera.  There was a Board of Health Meeting at the Mansion House, on the 18^th of April, of all the Faculty.  Upwards of 700 were present, and Dr Pitcairn was in the Chair.  He made an excellent speech. A Letter or notice was addressed by them to the Mayor with suggestions of preventions against cholera, signed by Charles Daly M.S. J. Pitcairn M.S. and two others.  By the strange irony of fate, Mrs Pitcairn was attacked by this dreadful disease, (cholera) and died, after twenty-four hours illness, on the 11^th day of July 1832.  So great was the dread of contagion, that her husband and her friends had to lay her in the grave, and even dig it, so great was the scare at the time.

In 1837 Dr Pitcairn received the honour of knighthood from the hands of Lord Normanby, in Dublin, on account of his professional services, and in 1847 Sir James was appointed Director-General of the Medical Department for Ireland, the duties of which he performed without interruption until 1852, when he retired from the Service, and was presented with a service of plate by his medical friends.

He had been seen much trouble, he had lost his beloved wife and four children before 1837.   He was a religious man, with a most cheerful disposition, very pleasant and tactful, and much beloved by every one with whom he came in contact, from his unfailing courtesy, and real goodness of heart.

To his children he was always a most kind, just, and indulgent Father; and if he had to reprove them he did it in such a pleasant way that it was more effectual than if they had been scolded.  My father used to tell us how when a little boy he sometimes put his elbows on the table at dinner.  Instead of scolding him, his father simply turned to the butler; “A pillow for Master Jacko,” and down would go the elbows like a shot.  “Leave a little for the Duke of Rutland’s family, boys” (manners), he used to say, if they at dinner were inclined to be greedy.  They were taught to take off their hats if a funeral passed, and say “Sir” to an old man.  On Christmas Day he always gave two toasts: First, “To absent friends,” and secondly, “Here’s a health to all those that we love; here’s a health to all those that love us; here’s a health to all those, that love them that love those, that love them, that love those, that love us.”

At Cork, where he lived for thirty-one years, he had a delightful circle of friends. He was of such a kindly nature himself, that he loved to be surrounded with young folks, and he was most hospitable, perpetually inviting the officers of the different regiments who were quartered at Cork, or who were embarking or disembarking at Queenstown.  He had a bright and cheery life.

Sir James married, secondly, Miss Emma Polocke, and had one son, who died young, and one daughter, Emmeline, who married Mr Rice of the Indian Civil Service.  She had two sons, Stanley and Frank, and three daughters living.

Sources

PFH: Constance Pitcairn