John Naysmith

In the 16th century and beyond, Royal patronage was important for advancement in many walks of life, and surgery was no exception. The Incorporation as a body, and individual surgeons valued such patronage, not only for the prestige which it carried, but also for the power that could overcome otherwise insurmountable political obstacles.

John Naysmith, was apprenticed to Gilbert Primrose who was Surgeon to King James VI of Scotland. As a result of Primrose’s patronage he was made a surgeon to King James VI, moving with the Court to London on the occasion of the Union of the Crowns. King James VI, now King James I of England, made him Royal Herbalist for life.

John Naysmith was the younger son of Michael Naysmyth (or Naesmyth) Chamberlain to John Hamilton, the archbishop of St Andrews. His early education was at St Mary's College, St Andrews before he was apprenticed to Gilbert Primrose. He was admitted to the Incorporation in 1588.

It is thought that he was a member of Lord Seton's party, a small select group who were entrusted to journey to England, ostensibly to pay homage to Queen Elizabeth, but in reality to smuggle letters to Mary Queen of Scots from the Regent. This was achieved successfully, and as a result of his part in this exploit he found favour with King James VI. Later however he was suspected of involvement in a plot against the King by Francis Earl of Bothwell, which resulted in his fleeing to France where he became Chief Surgeon to the Scots Guards of the King of France.

Returning to Scotland in 1599, he appears to have been forgiven for his earlier infidelity, and was accepted back into the Royal Court. Gilbert Primrose, his surgical master, had by now been made Serjeant-Surgeon (or Chief Surgeon) to King James VI. Naysmith became a surgeon to King James VI and, on the Union of the Crowns in 1603, he travelled with the Court to London. King James, now King James I of England, made him Royal Herbalist for life. After his death in London he was buried in Greyfriars churchyard in Edinburgh where an elaborate monument marks his grave.