The Wills of Timoteo O'Scanlan (1723-1795): Testimony of an Irish military doctor in 18th Century Spain

Abstract

The starting point of the present article are the wills of the Irish military doctor, Timoteo O'Scanlan, domiciled in Spain during the second half of the 18th Century. In the first place, these documents, together with others following his death, allow us to substantially increase what has heretofore been known of his biography as well as establishing a solid basis regarding his financial circumstances. Secondly, these facts enable us to address and analyse crucial issues such as how O'Scanlan, given the historical accommodation of Irish immigration in Spain, as well as the advantages accruing from his position as military doctor, was able to carry out a key role in the struggle to curtail the disease of smallpox in the Spain of that time, promoting the technique of inoculation both in theory as in practice and, at the same time, achieve a high level of social, professional and economic integration in his host country.