Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce. The College is located in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, within the William Henry Playfair designed Surgeons' Hall and adjoining buildings.The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is one of the oldest surgical corporations in the world and traces its origins to 1505 when the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh were formally incorporated as a craft guild of Edinburgh. The Barber-Surgeons of Dublin was the first medical corporation in Ireland or Britain, having been incorporated in 1446 (by Royal Decree of Henry VI).Today the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an international network with a membership of almost 20,000, in almost 100 countries. Though Edinburgh based, only 10% of the College's membership is based in Scotland, with around 40% based in England and 40% overseas.HistoryWith a history stretching back five centuries, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is one of the oldest surgical corporations in the world.The 16th centuryIn 1505, the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh were formally incorporated as a Craft Guild of the city and this recognition is embodied in the Seal of Cause (or Charter of Privileges) which was granted to the Barber Surgeons by the Town Council of Edinburgh on 1 July 1505.