David Dundas to James Dundas on his appointment as Sargent Surgeon by George III - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02549.50
From Archive Folder	David and Isabella Dundas letters
Title	David Dundas to James Dundas on his appointment as Sargent Surgeon by George III
Date	27 December 1791
Author	Dundas, David, Sir, Bart (1749-1826)
Recipient	Dundas, James
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Sends good news about his wife's recovery, the pension received by George Robertson, and his own appointment to Sargent Surgeon by King George III. Describes his meeting with George III and the significance of the appointment. Mentions that the King "added that He never could forget my attention & attachment to Him during His illness" (see GLC02549.44). Notes the prestige and compensation the position would afford.
Subjects	Global History and Civics Women's History Health and Medical Pension Government and Civics Mental Health Finance
People	Dundas, David, Sir (1749-1826) Dundas, James (1752-1831)
Place written	Richmond London, England
Theme	Health & Medicine; Government & Politics
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Sir David Dundas, 1st Bart of Richmond, was a doctor who was appointed Sergeant Surgeon to King George III in 1791. James Dundas was a lawyer in Edinburgh, Scotland, and David's younger brother.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Related documents	Letter from David Dundas to James Dundas discussing David's work, probably the treatment of King George III
Transcript	Show/hide Richmond 27 Dec 1791 My Dear James, I have of late sent you nothing but accounts of Misery & Distress. I have now the satisfaction to send accounts of a pleasanter nature. In the first place my Wife is recoving from Her accouchement tolerably well altho she has suffered much with [illegible] in the stomach - Next Mr. Gro: Robertson has got a pension of £100 a year - & lately the King was pleased to appoint me on Sunday Serjeant Surgeon - You will be perhaps as well as many other people astonished at the appointment, as there is no instance of any person in my [2] line of the profession holding this office, as it has been generally given to one of the oldest & first Surgeons in London - & I have all London open mouthed against me - but I do not regard that one farthing - The King conferred it on me in the handsomest manner possible, the Moment I told Him of my wish, without hesitation He replied "You can have no Competition," & added that He never could forget my attention & attachment to Him during His illness, & that this appointment need not take me from Richmond, when he understood I had a great deal of Business that I was as near Him [insert: or never] at Richmond as I should be even in London - [3] & told me He would write to Lord Salisbury the next day - I found however on Monday that He had wrote on Sunday Afternoon & sent off a messinger with it, & said in the learning of a friend of mine, that no appointment had given him more satisfaction - I need scarcely add that it has given me much, for besides the honour of the office, it being the first in the Profession, the Emoluments are between 3 & 4. hundred pounds a year - Remember me kindly to all wh You, & believe me ever Your faiths full & affect Brother David Dundas [address leaf] Richmond twenty eighth Decr 1791 James Dundass Edinburgh Onslow

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