Albert Edward Mettam

Albert Edward Mettam
Born 1867
Died 27 November 1917
Resting place Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin.
Residence 126 Pembroke Road, Dublin.
Institutions Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, Royal Veterinary College of Ireland.
Alma mater Royal (Dick) Veterinary College.
Children R. W. M. Mettam, Lieut. AVC, A. S. F. C. Mettam., Mrs T. Morison,

Albert Edward Mettam, BSc, MRCVS, MRIA (1867- 27 November 1917), was inaugural Principal of the Royal Veterinary College of Ireland in Dublin. He went there from The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College where he had been Professor of Anatomy and Histology from 1892.

Awards and positions held

Early life and education

Albert E. Mettam was born in Ordsall, Nottinghamshire, to Richard (a builder) and Ann Mettam. He qualified at the R(D)VC on 28 May 1889 where he was awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Fitzwygram prize for that year.

Career

He was in general veterinary practice in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

He succeeded his friend and colleague, John McFadyean, as Professor of Anatomy and Histology at the R(D)VC in 1892.

In 1900 he was appointed as the first Principal of the Royal Veterinary College of Ireland at its new premises in Pembroke Road, Dublin. He was editor of the Veterinarian from 1895 until its last edition 1902 and held the George Heriot Research Fellowship in Science in the Edinburgh University.

Elected President of the RVCS in 1911.

He was acknowledged for contributions to embryology and the anatomy of the limbs of the horse and domestic ruminants. With McFadyean and Stockman he was involved in the first experiments to develop the ‘TB’ test in Great Britain.

Life in Ireland

In 1911 he was made Lieutenant in the Officer Training Corps (RVCI) and then was promoted to the rank of Provisional Major. The OTC cadets were veterinary students who visited the sick lines of the army veterinary hospitals.

Mettam had a dramatic experience in Dublin in April 1916 during the Easter Rising. The rebels attacked Trinity College Botanic Gardens which was next to Mettam’s house and the army, thinking that shots had come from the Principal’s house, fired into it, and then entered the house taking Mettam prisoner, he was handcuffed and jailed along with the rebels. He was released, the next day but, in the view of some colleagues, he never fully recovered from the experience.

Death

Albert Mettam died aged 50, from pernicious anaemia on 27 November 1917.

At his funeral all the students of the RVC, Ireland marched from the College to the church and on to the graveside.[5]

His death left his wife and family in financial difficulties, but the RCVS and colleagues petitioned the government and obtained a pension for them.

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Prof A. E. Mettam". The Veterinary Record. 30 (1534): 219. 1 December 1917.
  2. Bradley, O. Charnock (1988). History of the Edinburgh Veterinary College. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Library. p. 97. ISBN 0907182100.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Irish Times". Obituary: Professor A.E. Mettam. 28 November 1917.
  4. "List of Past RCVS Presidents - RCVS Knowledge". knowledge.rcvs.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  5. "The late Professor A. E. Mettam". The Veterinary Record. 30 (1535): 241–242. 8 December 1917.
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