| Description | In reply to Holmes' note addressed to Mr Rix, Harrison's predecessor as Assistant Secretary, Sir Benjamin Brodie was the first surgeon elected a President of the Royal Society, but Sir Hans Sloane and Sir John Pringle, both physicians, preceded him in the chair. These are the only medical men beside Lord [Joseph] Lister who served the office of President, unless Holmes includes Dr W H Wollaston, who had the degree of M.D. but who only practised his profession for a short time. |