Education
Andrew Balfour was educated at the where he was mentored by his brother James, and studied philosophy and arithmetic under Thomas Glegg.
Andrew Balfour was educated at the where he was mentored by his brother James, and studied philosophy and arithmetic under Thomas Glegg.
Graduating with an Master of Arts, he moved to London and in 1650 became a pupil to John Wedderburn, the King"s physician. He travelled in France, studying in Paris and at the University of Caen, where he gained a degree with a dissertation entitled De Venae Sectione in Dysenteria. Returning to London, he became a governor to John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, travelling to Italy with him in 1667.
In 1667 Balfour set up medical practice in Street Andrews.
By this time he had amassed a large collection of scientific and medical books, curiosities and instruments: his "rarities" were called the "Museaum Balfourianum" by contemporaries. In 1670 he moved to set up practice in Edinburgh.
He planted a small botanical garden next to his house. Balfour and Sibbald set up a garden together near Holyrood Abbey, which Balfour subsequently persuaded the university to fund.
After Balfour"s death his library was sold, with a printed catalogue listing 3,501 items.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.