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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: ainslie on Wednesday 13 September 17 18:20 BST (UK)
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Revd. Alexander Crigan was born in Liverpool in 1780 and became rector or vicar of parishes in north Yorkshire from c1821 until his death in 1863. In his earlier life he had been a licensed apothecary in Dublin (1798), a medical student at Edinburgh (MD 1803), and a 'hospital mate' at the Royal Naval Hospital at Paignton c1808. His first curacy I have found was at Reading (St Giles, 1816). His last parish was Skipwith (1849-63).
I have not traced any record of attendance at Oxford or Cambridge and can only suppose that the influence of his father (Bishop of Sodor & Man) may have helped him into his second profession.
Is there anyone who can throw any light on this kind of career?
I should add that he seems to have been absent from his parish at both the 1851 and 1861 censuses in the days when curates were more available!
Ainslie
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Was he also of "Escrick"
Google "Alexander Crigan Escrick" and check google books "Reports of cases decided in the High Court of Chancery".
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The clergy database doesn't have a great deal -
http://db.theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/search/index.jsp
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I watched an old episode of a FH research program this last week about someone who had a similar section of careers and in the same era and the question in that case was asked " when and where did he qualify as a doctor, where did he get his medial degree" and even though they had searched their conclusion was 'no where' he didn't have any and he just added 'MD' to his name to get into the military and for the very senior position he got....... if it was possible to get away with being a doctor without any qualifications then the same answer could be for your man he may never had a theology training
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http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/bishops/crigan.htm
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Thank you both for your help and for interesting background material. I have another case of a clergyman who seems not to have been through what would now be normal processes of education and ordination, and this may well apply here, too.
A
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I think we all base our experience on now and what is required in education/ qualifications to do a particular job and can't imagine going to see a solicitor who has no law degree or a doctor with no medical training. I suppose it was a different era, different standards.
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Agreed, thanks for your interest.
A
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Hi Ainslee,
I found him on the 1851 and 1861 censuses, and also there is an old newspaper article of some land exchange deal he was making (in Feb 1851). Do you need the info from them, or are you focused just on the career duties?
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Thanks, but I had those references. My main interest is Crigan's change from a medical to a clerical career, and what (if any) extra degree he might have needed.
I shall have to concentrate on those years between 1808 when he was a naval medic and 1818 when he was a curate.
A
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I looked at some really old newspapers, and several also referred to his father as a doctor as well as reverend.
Good luck in your endeavour!
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Thank you. His father was bishop of Sodor & Man, so probably DD rather than MD.
A
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Some articles say "Doctor Rev. Claudius Crigan", others say "Right Reverend Dr. ..", so maybe the reporters were assuming a MD.
There is an Alexander Crigan, surgeon, ship Shannon, from around 1806 to around 1812 (would have to double check) that was taken prisoner in the Napoleonic Wars.
Also, in 1797, George Crigan, son of Claudius Crigan the Bishop, was a surgeon in the 46th reg. of foot, who died in a duel. Lots of articles on that one if you need, as perhaps he had the same education as Alexander.
According to a book at Google books (https://books.google.ca/books?id=CS4DDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT163&lpg=PT163&dq=training+for+surgeons+napoleonic+wars&source=bl&ots=FHOyXiG_XU&sig=Da1h-J0py7CmrwyrAX9pX0GNPYs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic5NPV6qzWAhXLiFQKHQDHC_MQ6AEITDAG#v=onepage&q=training%20for%20surgeons%20napoleonic%20wars&f=false) on some occasions, instead of attending universities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Aberdeen, one could just pay a fee at the time of the Napoleonic wars :o Social standing had a lot to do with it.
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Well, stubborn searching has paid off!! ;D ;D ;D (although it doesn't say which university ::) )
The Scots Magazine (Edinburgh, Scotland), Thursday, September 01, 1803
(printed over two columns, snippets from each column below)
The following gentlemen have had the degree of M.D. conferred upon them this feffion of the University:
Of Scotland.
(list of names, followed by latin)
Last on the list for Scotland is:
Alexander Crigan, De Nauseosi, et mode ejus administrationis in Phthisis curanda.
Snippets:
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Many thanks for the two extra bits. I have started another thread about the frigate 'Shannon' and Crigan's imprisonment, in the Armed Forces section.
As to the medical degree, Google produced another reference, via a Glasgow publication, showing the degree was from Edinburgh.
Ainslie