Dr William Buchan is buried in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey. The white marble tablet with a relief portrait on the wall is attributed to sculptor John Flaxman. He was from Ancrum near Jedburgh in Scotland and was educated at Edinburgh. He was physician at the foundling hospital in Acworth in Yorkshire and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. After moving to London he had a lucrative practice. His famous book went into many editions at home and abroad. He married Elizabeth Peter. Their son William died young but Alexander Peter Buchan became a doctor and died 5th December 1824 aged 61 and was buried with his father. The inscription on the tablet reads:
Sacred to the memory of William Buchan M.D. author of The Domestic Medicine. Ob. [died] A.D. MDCCCV, aet. [aged] LXXVI
He died 25th February 1805 aged 76.
Further reading
This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library
Image © 2024 Dean and Chapter of Westminster
