Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society
Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society
The Life of James Lawson Drummond
James Lawson Drummond was a pioneering figure in early 19th-century Belfast, remembered for his significant contributions to medicine, education, and natural history. Born in County Antrim, he was the son of a surgeon and educated at Belfast Academy. After a brief period in pharmacy, he joined the Royal Navy as a surgeon in 1806, serving in the Mediterranean under Admiral Collingwood. This experience enriched his interest in natural history and medicine.
After retiring from the Navy, Drummond earned his medical degree in Edinburgh in 1814. Returning to Belfast, he practiced medicine and joined the Belfast Academical Institution (“Inst”), where he served as Professor of Anatomy and Physiology for over 30 years. He was instrumental in founding the Faculty of Medicine there in 1835, contributing his personal money to its development.
Drummond was also the founding force behind the Belfast Natural History Society in 1821, serving as its first president. His anonymous pamphlet, Thoughts on the Study of Natural History, helped catalyze the Society’s formation. A passionate educator, he delivered over thirty lectures on topics from botany to human anatomy. In 1831, he oversaw the creation of Ireland’s first subscription-funded museum, closely linked to the Society.
Beyond academia, Drummond championed animal welfare, botanical education, and the arts. He was a patron of painter Andrew Nicholl and co-founded the Northern Irish Art Union. Married three times but childless, he died in 1853 and was buried in Ahoghill, where his widow Eliza later commissioned a memorial.
In 2021, to mark the bicentenary of the Society he founded, his grave was restored, recognizing a life dedicated to intellectual and civic enrichment in Belfast and beyond. Drummond’s legacy remains foundational in Belfast’s scientific and cultural heritage.
In 2021, the Society honoured Dr Drummond by publishing a detailed account of his life. This can be read below or downloaded.
Dr James Lawson Drummond
Title page of Drummond’s most successful book.
Ticket to the opening of the museum.
Drummond’s signature.
Drummond’s seal.
The Drummond Memorial, St Colmanell’s Church, Ahoghill.
Drummond’s grave - restored by the Society in 2021.
To mark the exact Bicentenary of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society, the Society refurbished the Drummond Grave in Ahoghill.
The Belfast Natural History Museum & Philosophical Society
Old Museum Building
7 College Square North,
Belfast BT1 6AR
Registered with the NI Charity Commission No. 100817