Edward Ash, M.D., was born in London, and received his early education at Birmingham, under the auspices of his uncle, Dr. John Ash, a fellow of our College, and the leading physician in that town. He was then entered at Christchurch, Oxford; and proceeded A.B. 23rd February, 1786; A.M. 4th November, 1788. He was elected to one of the Radcliffe travelling fellowships in July, 1790; and in compliance with the conditions of that endowment, passed some years upon the continent. On his return, accumulating his degrees in physic, he proceeded doctor of medicine 6th December, 1796, as a member of University college. Dr. Ash then settled in London; was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 2nd April, 1798; a Fellow, 18th March, 1799; was Gulstonian lecturer in 1801; and Censor in 1802, 1811, 1822. He was a fellow of the Royal Society, and physician extraordinary to the king. Dr. Ash, by an early marriage with his cousin, and the death of her father, Dr. John Ash, was placed in competent circumstances, and rendered independent of his profession. He was of retiring habits, and, "as a public character, was little known beyond a select circle of friends, chiefly of the literary and scientific class, by whom he was highly and universally esteemed, as well on account of his strict moral qualities as his extensive intellectual attainments. Endowed largely with various stores of knowledge beyond what are usually acquired in his profession, his habits were yet unobtrusive and unassuming; and his disposition and manners were not well calculated for contention with his brethren in the pursuit of a large and first-rate metropolitan practice, although none probably excelled him in sound professional knowledge." (1)

Dr. Ash died at his house in Foley-place, 29th March, 1829, aged sixty-five. He was the author of "The Speculator," 8vo. 1790, published in weekly numbers.

William Munk

[(1) Medical Gazette]