November, 1909. The Irtsh NaturaHsf. 229 



DANIEL JOHN CUNNINGHAM. 



Irish naturalists, no less than those of Great Britain, mourn 

 the death of Prof. D. J. Cunningham, F.R.S., who passed to his 

 rest, after much suffering, at Edinburgh on June 23rd of this 

 year. For although a Scotsman — he was born at Crieff, Perth- 

 shire, a "son of the manse," on April 15th, 1850 — and at the 

 time of his death occupant of the Chair of Anatomy in his own 

 University of Edinburgh, Cunningham's greatest years were 

 passed in Ireland ; to Ireland he devoted his best energies and 

 talents^ and he leaves an indelible mark on the scientific life of 

 Dublin. 



After school days at Crieff and a short business experience 

 in Glasgow^ Cunningham entered the medical school of Edin- 

 burgh University in 1870. He had a highly distinguished 

 career as a student, and after his graduation he became demon 

 strator in anatomy under Prof, (now Sir William) Turner. In 

 1876 he was appointed senior demonstrator, an office which he 

 held through six busy years during w^hich he devoted himself 

 to teaching, and found time to carry on much anatomical 

 research. 



It was in 1882 that Cunningham left Edinburgh for Dublin, 

 accepting the Chair of Anatomy in the Royal College of 

 Surgeons. But he only held that post for a year, being 

 appointed in 1883 to succeed Prof. Alexander Macalister (who 

 had been transferred to Cambridge) as professor of anatomy in 

 Dublin University. For tw^enty strenuous years he laboured 

 at the teaching and organising work of the Trinity medical 

 school. In the earlier part of this period, building and equip- 

 ment occupied much of his attention, and the present and 

 future efficiency of the anatomical department owes and will 

 owe much to his genius and foresight. In this work he was 

 associated with the late Rev. Dr. S. Haughton^, his close friend, 

 whose energetic advocacy had convinced the governing body 

 of the College of the needs of the medical school, and who 

 found in Cunningham an enthusiastic colleague and helper. 



