| Activity | James Crichton was born in Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway where his father was the provost of the town. He was educated locally and went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. After graduating he took a post with the East India Company as physician to the Governor General of India. He amassed considerable wealth while in the east, trading in both India and China. He returned to Scotland in 1808 and purchased the estate of Friars Carse to the north of Dumfries the following year, and married Elizabeth Grierson in 1810. He died in 1823 aged 58, leaving various specific bequests, but most significantly his request that his 'remaining means and estate shall be applied in such charitable purposes…..as may be pointed out by my said dearly beloved wife with the approbation of the majority of my said Trustees', enabled the founding of Crichton Royal Institution in Dumfries 16 years later. |