The surgical diploma obtained at Surgeons' Hall on 2 February 1817 marked the beginning of a medical career that integrated physiology with the emerging field of phrenology. Andrew Combe, born in Edinburgh in 1797, established a influential practice that reached the royal households of Belgium and the United Kingdom during the nineteenth century.
Medical Training and Early Practice
After attending the Royal High School, Combe began his training as a surgeon's pupil in 1812. He furthered his education in Paris starting in 1817, where he studied anatomy and cerebral morphology under Spurzheim. Upon returning to Edinburgh, he gained his medical degree in 1825. His clinical approach was noted for professional courtesy and attentive listening, which facilitated the growth of his private practice.
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Take the IQ test →Contributions to Phrenological Science
Combe was a key figure in the Edinburgh Phrenological Society, serving as its president in 1827. His intellectual output included rigorous defenses of phrenological principles against contemporary critics, such as Dr. Barclay. He helped establish the Phrenological Journal in 1823, following a significant debate at the Royal Medical Society, and his early publications focused on the relationship between brain injuries and mental manifestations.
Physiological Writing and Royal Appointments
Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, Combe authored several widely read texts on health and digestion. His 1834 work, The Principles of Physiology applied to the Preservation of Health, achieved bestseller status. He was appointed physician to King Leopold I of Belgium in 1836 and later served as a physician to Queen Victoria in 1838. His final major publication, The Physiological and Moral Management of Infancy, was released in 1840.
Dietary Views and Final Years
In his research, Combe challenged the arguments for exclusive vegetarianism presented by figures like William Alcott and Sylvester Graham. He argued these views lacked a basis in physiological principles. Despite his contributions, his health declined due to tuberculosis. He spent his final years seeking relief through travel to the United States and Madeira before dying at Gorgie in 1847.
Fast facts
- Born: 27 October 1797, Edinburgh
- Died: 9 August 1847, Gorgie
- Education: Royal High School, University of Edinburgh, University of Paris
- Major Work: The Principles of Physiology applied to the Preservation of Health (1834)
- Professional Role: Physician to King Leopold I and Queen Victoria
- Fields of Study: Medicine, Physiology, Anatomy, Phrenology
- Burial Site: St Cuthbert's Churchyard, Edinburgh
- Status: Never married
Questions readers ask
What was Andrew Combe's view on diet?
He was a vocal critic of strict vegetarianism, arguing that claims regarding the superior strength of vegetable-eating populations were not supported by physiological evidence.
Did Combe hold any official medical positions?
Yes, he was appointed physician to King Leopold I of Belgium in 1836 and served as a physician to Queen Victoria starting in 1838.
