The next of my family treasures is a cylinder originally owned by my great great grandfather Dr William Lee Dawson.
Dr William Lee Dawson 1819 - 1871
Two weeks ago I bit the bullet and undid the precious cylinder. I’m not sure how many times it has been opened and the contents removed. However, I don’t think it would have been all that often.
Cylinder containing medical certificates dating from 1845.
The cylinder probably was purchased some time between 1845 when my great great grandfather began his medical training at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin and 1853 when he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. Almost immediately afterwards he sailed for New York aboard the Asia steam ship and afterwards he joined the Dee , sailing round the Carribean. His diary tells us that he resigned as he was not satisfied with the conditions for Surgeons as they did not have the same privileges as other officers. In 1854 William Lee Dawson became the surgeon ab...