Background
He was born in Leith, the son of John Cheyne, a local doctor.
He was born in Leith, the son of John Cheyne, a local doctor.
He was educated at Leith Grammar School then the High school in Edinburgh.
He was one of the people to identify Cheyne–Stokes respiration. Having grown up around medical practice he was able to enter Edinburgh University at the age of 15, graduating as a doctor at 18 years of age. He joined the army and worked as a surgeon with an artillery corporations
He was present at the Battle of Vinegar Hill.
Cheyne rejoined his father"s practice four years later in 1799. Ten years later, Cheyne moved to Dublin and in 1811 began working at the Meath Hospital.
He also taught war medicine and was appointed Physician General to British forces in Ireland in 1820. He retired to England in 1831 following a course of ill health and died at his country estate a few years later.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1814.
He died in Sherrington.