Admin
history |
The Edinburgh Institution for the Relief of Incurables at their Own Homes was founded in Edinburgh in 1805 (for trust deed see B of C & S 1811 Mar 20). The founder was Elizabeth Keir, widow of Dr William Keir of Wester Rhynd, a former physician at St Thomas Hospital, London. The Institution aimed to aid people of good character in Edinburgh, later Scotland as a whole, who were unable to earn a living on account of having an incurable disease. Assistance took the form of pensions and other monetary gifts. The funds for these were provided by legacies and contributions from the charitable public and by income accrued from investments. The routine affairs of the Institution were run by a manageress - the first of whom was Elizabeth Keir - and her assistants, aided by a treasurer and secretary, all of whom liaised with a committee of superintendence (later styled as directors). The directors also supervised the administration of the Dunlop Cancer Fund for incurables, the monies for which were bequeathed by Andrew Vans Dunlop, surgeon of the East Indian Company, in 1879. In 1900 the Institution had around 450 annuitants. It was incorporated as a Royal Society in 1903 and still continues its work today. |