Thomas Shortt

Thomas Shortt FRSE FRCPE (1788–1843) was a Scottish physician. He is chiefly remembered for drafting Napoleon's official autopsy report while serving as the chief medical officer on St Helena.

Shortt was born near Dumfries on 17 June 1788, the son of Francis Shortt of Courance & White Laird. Educated at Edinburgh University he joined the British Army in 1806 as assistant surgeon to the 10th Regiment of Foot. Most of his service was spent in Italy, Sicily, and Egypt. In 1813 he was promoted surgeon to the 20th Light Dragoons and in 1815 Physician to the Forces, before returning to practice in Edinburgh. In 1815 he graduated from the University of Edinburgh as a Doctor of Medicine.^[1]

In 1819 he was appointed Physician Extraordinary to the King in Scotland and Principal Medical Officer in St Helena, arriving on St. Helena in December, 1820. Shortt never saw Napoleon professionally, but was repeatedly consulted by the other doctors on St Helena.

From 1828 he worked at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

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