Background
The only son of John Rae (1677–1754), a barber-surgeon with a background in Stirlingshire, he was born in Edinburgh.
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James Rae
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Rae was the first surgeon appointed to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 7 July 1766. There he gave practical discourses on cases of importance. In October 1776 his fellow surgeons made a determined attempt to found a professorship of surgery in the University of Edinburgh, and to appoint Rae the first professor
They were defeated by Alexander Monro secundus, who then managed to convert his own chair of anatomy into one of anatomy and surgery.
Rae did in Edinburgh what Percivall Pott did in London, in establishing the teaching of clinical surgery. Rae married, in 1744, Isobel, daughter of Ludovic Cant of Thurstan.
John, the younger brother, was the first fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where he was admitted on 14 March 1781. He became president in 1804-1805, and was known as a dentist.
Among Rae"s daughters were: Elizabeth Keith, who founded the Edinburgh Association for Incurables.
Elizabeth (Isabella), mother of Marjorie Fleming. And Margaret, mother of William Fettes.
Membership
He became on 27 August 1747 a member of the Incorporation of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where in 1764-1765 he filled the office of deacon or president
