Person

Cotter, Thomas Young (1805 - 1882)

Born
1805
Bantry, Cork, Ireland
Died
9 January 1882
Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia
Occupation
Physician

Summary

Thomas Young Cotter was appointed the first colonial surgeon of South Australia in 1835, but didn't arrive in the colony until January 1837. In this post he cared for all government officers and immigrants and their families as well as many of the prisoners. Due to the colony's harsh conditions, poor facilities and insufficient funds, Cotter struggled to provide a decent medical service and was accused of neglect. He was eventually suspended from service in 1839. He spent the rest of his life working in general practice around South Australia and held many short-term medical posts. Cotter was a co-inventor of a 'New and Improved Mode of separating Copper and Bismuth from Ores' which was patented in 1869.

Details

Chronology

1835 - 1839
Career position - First Colonial Surgeon of South Australia
1840s - 1870s
Career position - Private practice in various locations around South Australia
c. 1855 - 1856
Career position - Medical officer at Robe, South Australia
1864
Career position - Surgeon for the Great Northern Mining Co.

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

  • Collins, David, Chemistry in 19th Australia - Select Bibliography, An exhibition of the Encyclopedia circa 2005 with assistance from Ailie Smith and Gavan McCarthy., eScholarship Research Centre (original publisher), Melbourne, 2009, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/ciab/ciab_ALL.html. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Cotter, Thomas Young, 'Improvements in the Smelting of Copper. (Patent, 1 March, 1862)', Specifications of Letters of Registration of Patents for Inventions - South Australia, 1 (22) (1848-68), 2. Details
  • Cotter, Thomas Young and Dubois, Charles Lewis, 'New and Improved Mode of separating Copper and Bismuth from Ores, &c. (Patent, 28 Jan., 1869)', Specifications of Letters of Registration of Patents for Inventions - South Australia, 2 (116) (1868-74), 2. Details

Resources

Annette Alafaci

EOAS ID: biogs/P004809b.htm

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