Dr Patrick Plunket and a doctor’s work/life balance.
It seems that the difficulty for doctors to find a good work/life balance is not a new one and not one that is easy to escape from, as this series of letters show!
12 June 1953 Solicitors of Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket to Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
'We are instructed by our Client, Lord Plunket, that he loaned to the Royal College of Physicians a portrait of Dr. Patrick Plunket. Our Client is now desirous of having the portrait returned to him and has requested us to communicate with you with a view to making the necessary
arrangements to that end'
16 June 1953 – Dr Kirkpatick, Registrar RCPI to Solicitors of Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket
'I read your letter of June 12, with considerable regret. The portrait of Dr Plunket has hung on the walls of the College for many years and he seems to have been happy there – glad for a permanent resting place in his old College. His time here at the end of the eighteenth century was, with the rest of the country, much troubled and he seems to have been grateful for the rest of modern times. I do not like the idea of his having to re-embark on a new life amongst strangers. Perhaps Lord Plunket will reconsider his verdict and allow his ancestor to remain in his old home where he seems to be happy.'
24 June 1953 – Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket to Dr Kirkpatick, Registrar RCPI
'My solicitor has passed on to me your letter of the 12th June, the sentiments of which I fully appreciate. I am sure Doctor Patrick has been happy in his old College, among friends. But his serenity should not be condoned. For here, sad and lonely is Louisa Straffan – his WIFE! He will not be re-embarking, as you suggest, on a new life among strangers. Here also he will find his brother and sister in law, a most agreeable looking couple. I feel therefore that you should connive no longer at his desertion, but dispatch him forthwith. You many however assure him that his reception will be undeservedly cordial'
30 June 1953 - Dr Kirkpatick, Registrar RCPI to Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket
'Far be it from me to come between a man and his wife. If Dr. Plunket wishes to rejoin his family circle it is obviously a duty to give any assistance which we can to him. There are some formalities which must be gone through before Dr. Plunket starts on his way home … As soon as he is fit to travel we shall let you know'
7 July 1953 – Dr Kirkpatick, Registrar RCPI to Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket
'To-day Dr. Pat is to start on his journey home to the far fields of Kent. We brought him down to the College meeting on Friday last and he seemed to be interested in the procedure. I hope he will arrive safely.'
8 August 1953 – Telegram Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket to Dr Kirkpatick, Registrar RCPI
'Doctor Pat arrived fit and well. Intend to have him cleaned before he meets his wife.'
Who's Who in the Letters;
Dr. Patrick Plunket An Irish doctor, the son of the Rev. Thomas Plunket of Dublin and his wife Mary nee Coyngham. Plunket was educated at Trinity College gaining his BA in 1774, and at Edinburgh where he took his MD in 1779. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and President from 1786-7, 1793-4 and 1800-1. He married Louisa Straffan. His younger brother William was Lord Chancellor of Ireland and made 1st Baron Plunket in 1827.
Patrick Plunket Patrick Plunket (1923-1975) was the 7th Baron Plunket, he succeeded to the title on the death of his parents, Dorothy Lewis and Terence Plunket 6th Baron, in an air accident in 1938. He was Equerry to the Queen and Deputy Master of the Royal Household from 1954-1975.
Dr Kirkpatrick Thomas Percy Claude Kirkpatick (1869-1954) was a physician and medical historian; he served the College as Registrar for forty four years (1910-1954). During his time as registrar Dr Kirkpatrick did much to develop the collections of the Heritage Centre. Following his death his extensive medical history library and archive of medical history research papers was donated to the College, along with his index of biographical information on over 10,000 Irish doctors.
Images:
* Copy of the portrait of Patrick Plunket by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, formerly loaned to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, from the Roll of College Presidents, RCPI Archive
* Photographic portrait of Patrick Plunket, 7th Baron Plunket by Cecil Beaton, NPG 14180 http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/largerimage.php?sText=plunket&search=ss&OConly=true&firstRun=true&LinkID=mp64085&role=sit&rNo=0
* Portrait of Thomas Percy Claude Kirkpatrick by Leo Whelan, RCPI Heritage Collections.