LIFE OF MUNGO PARK. 
V 
his mind ; but, his son having made choice of the medical 
profession, he was readily induced to acquiesce. In conse- 
quence of this determination, Mungo Park was bound 
apprentice at the age of fifteen to Mr. Thomas Anderson, 
a respectable surgeon in Selkirk, with whom he resided 
three years ; continuing, at the same time, to pursue his 
classical studies and to attend occasionally at the grammar 
school. In the year 1789, he quitted Mr. Anderson, and 
removed to the University of Edinburgh, where he pursued 
the course which is common to medical students, and 
attended theusualLecturesduring three successive sessions. 
Nothing particular is recorded of his academical life. 
He appears, however, to have applied to the studies con- 
nected with the science of medicine with his accustomed 
ardour and assiduity, and to have been distinguished 
among his fellow-students. During his summer vacations 
he paid great attention to botanical pursuits, for which he 
seems always to have had a great predilection ; and a tour 
which he made about this time to the Highlands, in com- 
pany with his brother-in-law, Mr. James Dickson, a dis- 
tinguished Botanist, contributed greatly to hisimprovement 
in this science. 
After having completed his studies at Edinburgh, Park 
removed to London in search of some medical employment. 
In this pursuit he was much assisted by his relation Mr. 
Dickson, to whom he had before been indebted in his 
botanical studies. By his means Park was now introduced 
to Sir Joseph Banks ; whose interest or recommendation 
shortly afterwards procured for him the appointment of 
Assistant Surgeon to the Worcester East Indiaman. 
