James Borthwick, an apothecary who had served as a surgeon overseas along with Alexander Pennycuik, was unusual in being admitted to the Incorporation of Surgeons without first having served an apprenticeship. This was partly because the membership of the Incorporation had been reduced by the plague. It seems likely that his admission was facilitated by Pennycuik who was Deacon of the Incorportion at the time. Borthwick was admitted with a particular responsibility - he was to perform anatomical dissections for the instruction of apprentices. This was the first time that the Incorporation had designated a specific teacher of anatomy. He was responsible, jointly, with Thomas Kincaid for the act of the Town Council which, in 1657, brought the Surgeon- Apothecary into being in Edinburgh. Up until then the surgeons and apothecaries had different areas of practice, the surgeons being responsible for treating tumours, wounds, ulcers and fractures while the apothecaries were involved in dispensing medicines. After the 1657 Act it became possible to combine these skills as a surgeon-apothecary.
James Borthwick was Deacon of the Incorporation from 1648 to 1651 and again from 1659 to 1661. He owned the estate of Stow, south of Edinburgh, and was a member of the Scottish Parliament representing Edinburgh.
