Neil Arnott, F. R. S. Reformer, innovator and popularizer of science 1788-1874

Abstract

Neil Arnott became a Fellow of the Royal Society on 25 January 1838. At a time when many members were non-scientists his nominees included both engineers, such as Wheatstone, and medical men like Sir James Clark, Physician in Ordinary to the Queen and later prominent in the scandal of the unfortunate Lady Flora Hastings. During this century Arnott’s achievements have been unjustifiably neglected. He was a notable medical practitioner, a public health reformer, a practical innovator, an educator and general man of affairs whose standing justifies our re-appraisal. The intention of this paper therefore is to reconstruct and analyse Arnott’s contribution to nineteenth century society. The account of his life in the Dictionary of National Biography is largely based on two lectures given by Professor Alexander Bain to the Philosophical Society of Aberdeen. Much of the domestic and personal background needs no repetition but the elapse of a century warrants a re-assessment of his career from the perspectives of our own time.