Sir Robert Sibbald

1641 - 1722

Physician, geographer and natural historian. Although born in Edinburgh, the family fled to Linlithgow in 1645 to avoid the plague. Sibbald witnessed the sacking of Dundee by General Monk in 1651. He was educated initially in Cupar, near the family estate, and later at the High School and University in Edinburgh.

After returning from medical studies on the continent, Sibbald established the first botanical garden in Edinburgh (1671), along with Andrew Balfour (1630-94). He was the first Professor of Medicine at the University, founded the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh (1681) and was physician to King James VII. He was also Cartographer-Royal for Scotland. He wrote books on the topography of Fife and Stirlingshire, and drew on the work of others such as Adair, Martin and Pont to contribute to various works on Scotland, although his own Scottish Atlas was never published.

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