Student Evaluations in Late Modern Times: Testimonials in Favour of James Y. Simpson, M.D.

In this essay I discuss documents in which both scholars and former students express their support for James Y. Simpson’s application for the Chair of Midwifery at the University of Edinburgh in 1839. Although today James Y. Simpson is well-known for his use of chloroform as an anaesthetic, the outcome of his experiments would not be published until 1847, so the testimonials presented here concern a time when Simpson was still building his professional image. Through an analysis of the documents available in the Wellcome Collection, it will be shown how participants enhance the recipient’s positive face, so as to stress his suitability for the post. This enhancement concerns both professional and human qualities. At the same time, all the subjects appear to convey their attitude in such a way that their own respective social and professional status can be maintained and indeed enhanced per se.