| History | Dominic Corrigan was born 1 December 1802, the second son of John Corrigan, a dealer in agricultural tools, and his wife Celia O'Connor. He was educated at the lay college at Maynooth, and having shown an aptitude for medicine he was apprenticed to the local doctor, Edward Talbot O'Kelly. Corrigan took medical courses at various private schools and the two universities in Dublin between 1820 and 1825. He graduated from Edinburgh University in August 1825, with amongst other William Stokes. Corrigan returned to Dublin and began his private practice at 11 Ormond Quay. His private practice grew quickly and his success can be seen in the geographical movement of his practice, to 13 Bachelor's Walk in 1832 and in 1837 to 4 Merion Square West, the centre of the elite medical profession in Ireland.
As well as his lucrative private practice, during the 1860s he was making over £4000 a year, Corrigan took on a number of public appointments which allowed him to undertake and publish medical research. He was physician to Maynooth College, the Sick Poor Institute, the Charitable Infirmary Jervis Street, Cork Street Fever Hospital and the House of Industry Hospitals. Working with many of the city's poorest inhabitants he specialized in disease of the heart and lungs, and produced several important medical papers on the subject. He also lectured extensively to medical students.
Corrigan's career prospects were set back in 1846 when he joined the newly created Central Board of Health, which had been set up to try and cope with the consequences of the Irish famine. His support of the Board and especially his recommendations for the level of doctor's pay brought him into conflict with the leaders of the profession, who blocked his bid to become an honorary fellow of the King and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland.
Despite this set back Corrigan was appointed physician-in-ordinary to Queen Victoria in Ireland in 1847, the first catholic to be so honoured, two years later Trinity College Dublin awarded him an honorary MD. In 1855 Corrigan out flanked the College of Physicians opposition by taking the licentiateship exam, with the newly qualified doctors. He became a Fellow of the College the following year, and in 1859 the first catholic president. It was during his tenure as President that the College acquired its present building. In 1866 he was awarded a baronetcy for his services to medicine.
Corrigan was an active member of the Royal Zoological Society of Dublin, presenting many papers to the society. In recognition of his involvement in the campaign to establish an Irish Pharmaceutical Society he was made its first President. Corrigan also served on the General Medical Council for over twenty years and was active in pushing for reform to medical education. He was also a strong campaigner for non-denominational education in Ireland. In 1859 he was appointed a commissioner of national education, he also served as a senator of the Queen's University of Ireland from the 1840s, and was vice-chancellor from 1871.
In 1870 Corrigan was elected a Liberal MP for Dublin city at a by-election. He advocated the early release of Fenian prisoners, and promoted secular education which brought him into conflict with the catholic hierarchy. He did not stand for re-election in 1874, one reason suggested for this is that his support of temperance and Sunday closing were unpopular with his electorate.
Corrigan married Joanna Woodlock, the daughter of a wealth merchant in 1829; they had three sons and three daughters. The eldest John, a soldier, died in 1866 leaving one son who succeeded his grandfather to the baronetcy. William became a lawyer and died unmarried in 1881. The third son Robert died an infant, two daughters Joanna and Celia both died unmarried, but the third Mary married Richard Martin, who later became deputy lieutenant of Dublin city.
Corrigan suffered a stroke in December 1879 and died on 1 February 1880, he was interred in the crypt of St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row. |
| Custodial History | After Sir Dominic Corrigan's death his papers were preserved by his daughter Lady Mary Martin, who added notes to some items, as well as adding her own collection of papers relating to her father's life. After her death in 1907 the papers passed to her husbands family, and it was they who presented them to College. The original order of the material as created by Corrigan has been lost. |