, bart. of Prestonfield, an eminent physician, the third son of sir William
, bart. of Prestonfield, an eminent physician, the third son of sir William Cunningham,
of Caprington, by dame Janet Dick, the only child and
heiress of sir James Dick, of Prestonfield, near Edinburgh,
was born Oct. 23, 1703. While his two elder brothers
succeeded to ample fortunes, the one as heir to his father,
and the other to his mother, the provision made for a
younger son was not sufficient to enable him to live in a
manner agreeable to his wishes without the aid of his own
exertions. After, therefore, receiving a classical education at Edinburgh, he studied medicine at Leyden under
the celebrated Boerhaave, and obtained the degree of
M. D. from that univer c; Aug. 31, 1725. On this occasion he published an i“, > -,gural dissertation,
” De Epilepsia," which did him much credit. Not long after this
he returned to Scotland, and had the honour of receiving
a second diploma for the degree of M. D. conferred upon
him by the university of St. Andrew’s, Jan. 23, 1727, and
Nov. 7 of the same year, was admitted a fellow of the royal
college of physicians of Edinburgh. But after Dr. Cunningham (for at that time he bore the name of his father)
had received these distinguishing marks of attention at
home, he was still anxious to obtain farther knowledge of
his profession by the prosecution of hi-, studies abroad.
With this intention he made the tour of Europe; and although medicine was uniformly his first and principal object, yet other arts and sciences were not neglected.