Golf has been and remains a favourite leisure activity for surgeons. Two Fellows have been closely associated with the early days of the sport from its origins in East Lothian. John Rattray(qv) was the first to write down the rules of golf and William Inglis achieved lasting fame by being the subject of one of the best known portraits of the early history of golf. He was Deacon of the Incorporation on three occasions and was one of the earliest captains of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
Several families had an association with the Incorporation/College extending over several generations and the Inglis family was one such. William was the son of a surgeon, Alexander Inglis (Fellow 165). He married Margaret Spens, sister of Nathaniel Spens (Fellow 229). Their son, Andrew, in turn became a surgeon (Fellow 280), as did their grandsons, Thomas Inglis (Fellow 334) and Archibald Inglis (Fellow 370), who all became Fellows of the College. Little is known about Inglis early life. After serving his surgical apprenticeship, he applied on 5 August 1743 to sit the examination which would enable him to be elected a Fellow. Four examiners were appointed and the examination was held in four parts over the next three months. At the initial sitting he was examined on surgery in general, after which he gave a discourse and was examined on the topic of “Fistula”. The subject for his second examination was “the brain and its membranes”. On his third appearance he was examined on botany, materia medica and “reading and explaining receipts” - the surgeons of the day clearly being required to demonstrate that they were competent in simple business tasks in addition to surgery. His final examination was on an operation for empyema and the composition of various unctions. Having successfully passed these examinations, he paid the Incorporation the sum of £8 6 shillings and 8 pence and was admitted a Fellow on 7 October 1743.
He was also a successful golfer. His famous portrait by David Allan depicts him in the red livery of the Honourably Company of Edinburgh Golfers, of which he was Captain between 1782 and 1784.
