The Accidental Birth of Military Medicine: The Origins of the Royal Army Medical Corps

The Accidental Birth of Military Medicine reveals the collaboration between the Army Medical Department and two major London universities that led to the creation of the first Army Medical School.Using new research, Professor Miles unfolds details of the collaboration and gives a detailed history of the developing Army Medical Department, from the time of Waterloo, through the Crimean War, up until the founding of the Army medical School at Fort Pitt, Chatham. The book pays special attention to key figures in the Army Medical School’s development, including Sir James McGrigor, Florence Nightingale and Sir Andrew Smith, as well as charting the foundations of two major London universities, King’s College London and University College London.Informative and engaging, Professor Miles’ ground-breaking book shows evidence of hushed activity between the government and the two universities that helped to develop and standardise the education of army medical officers. The Accidental Birth of Military Medicine revolutionised officer training and produced significant benefits in the armed forces for the first time in history.