Abstract
James McGrigor (1771–1858) entered the Army Medical Department in September 1793, when he purchased a Surgeoncy in De Burgh's regiment. He transferred to the Blues (the Royal Horse Guards) in 1804 and shortly afterwards his organizational skills were recognized by the Duke of York. In 1811, he recommended McGrigor to Wellington, who commanded the British Forces in the Peninsula, and McGrigor joined Wellington in January 1812. As a result of his outstanding achievements during the Peninsular War, McGrigor was knighted in 1814. He later played a critical role in the post-Peninsular War Army by elevating the academic standard of the intake of medical officers as well as improving the standard of those who wished to gain promotion in the service. He established an extensive Anatomy, Pathology and Natural History Museum and the reference library at Fort Pitt at Chatham in Kent. He retired at the beginning of 1851, and died in London in April 1858, aged 87. In 1863, the museum collections were moved initially to the Army Medical School at Netley. At a later date these collections were dispersed and their present whereabouts are unknown. A significant proportion of his library is presently located in the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre on permanent loan in the library of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine.