William Mushet, M.D., was descended from a family in Stirling, but was born in Dublin, whither his parents had fled on account of their participation in the cause of the old Pretender. He is thought to have been educated at Trinity college, Dublin. He was entered on the physic line at Leyden 26th August, 1745, aged twenty-nine, and as a member of King’s college, Cambridge, he proceeded M.D. in 1746. He was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 4th April, 1748; and a Fellow, 20th March, 1749. He delivered the Gulstonian lectures in 1751. Dr. Mushet was physician to the army; he served in Germany, and was present at the battle of Minden in 1759, where he was physician-in-chief to the forces. At the conclusion of the war he received the thanks of both houses of Parliament for his services, and was offered a baronetcy, which he declined. Dr. Mushet was intimately connected with the duke of Rutland, and for eleven years had apartments in Belvoir castle.(1) He died at York (to which city he had retired) 11th December, 1792, aged seventy-six. A monument to his memory is in the church of St. Mary Castle-gate, York. It bears the following inscription from the pen of Sir Robert Sinclair, recorder of York:—
To the Memory of
William Mushet, M.D.,
who,
by availing himself of the early advantage
of a polite and liberal education,
by an unremitting pursuit of every species
of useful and honourable learning,
by a prudent and judicious culture of a
cheerful disposition and lively imagination,
and by an uncommon share of natural
acuteness and penetration,
attained to very great and deserved
estimation and eminence in his profession.
He died at York, 11th December, a.d. 1792,
in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
This tribute of piety and affection was paid
by his daughter, Mary Mushet.

William Munk

[(1) Information from W. B. Mushet, M.B.]