AINSLIE, Whitelaw. Duns, Berwickshire 17.2.1767 — London 29.4.1837. Sir. British Army Physician in India. Son of Robert Ainslie (1734–1795) and Catharine Whitelaw. Joined the E.I.C. medical service in 1788 as Assistant Surgeon, and served in Madras Presidency. Surgeon 1794, Superintending Surgeon 1810, retired in 1815 and returned to England. Wrote on the cholera, on fever, and on Indian materia medica, was also interested in Indian medicine (āyurveda). Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh 1829. Knighted 1835. Married Mary Cunninghame, their only daughter Jane Catharine married —> James Grant-Duff (1789–1858).
Publications: Materia medica of Hindoostan. 301 p. Madras 1813; rev. & enlarged ed. Materia Indica; or, some account of those articles which are employed by the Hindoos and other Eastern Nations in their medicine, arts and agriculture. 1-2. 593 p. L. 1826.
– With A. Smyth & M. Christy: An historical sketch of the introduction of Christianity into India and its progress and present state…, preceded by a brief account of the religious opinions of some of the heathen philosophers. 160 p. Edinburgh 1835.
– Medical publications, e.g. on elephantiasis and on smallpox variolation.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; B.D.J[ackson], D.N.B. 1, 1885, 190f. (defective), *rev. by J. Mills, Oxford D.N.B. 2004; works in N.U.C.; Wikipedia.
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