December 2nd, 1802
Sir Dominic John Corrigan, 1st Baronet (2 December 1802 – 1 February 1880), the renowned Irish physician and cardiologist, was born on December 1, 1802, in Thomas Street, Dublin, Ireland.
He made significant contributions to the field of medicine, particularly in the understanding and diagnosis of heart diseases.
Corrigan is best known for describing “Corrigan’s pulse,” a medical sign associated with aortic insufficiency (regurgitation), in which there is a rapid and forceful rise and collapse of the arterial pulse. The abnormal “collapsing” pulse of aortic valve insufficiency is named Corrigan’s pulse after him.
Private Practice
In 1825, Corrigan and set up a private practice at 11 Ormond Street, Dublin, as his practice grew he moved to 12 Bachelors Walk in 1832, and in 1837 to 4 Merrion Square West.
Public Appointments
Corrigan held many public appointments; he was physician to Maynooth College, the Sick Poor Institute, the Charitable Infirmary Jervis Street (1830–43) and the House of Industry Hospitals (1840–1866).
Specialized in Heart and Lung
His work with many of Dublin’s poorest inhabitants led to him specialising in diseases of the heart and lungs, and he lectured and published extensively on the subject. He was known as a very hard-working physician, especially during the Great Famine of Ireland.
At a by-election in 1870 Corrigan was elected a Liberal Member of Parliament for Dublin. In parliament he actively campaigned for reforms to education in Ireland and the early release of Fenian prisoners.
He did not stand for re-election in 1874; his support for temperance and Sunday closing (of pubs) is thought to have antagonised his constituents and alcohol companies.
Honours
- 1840’s - He was a member of the senate of the Queen’s University.
- 1847 - Corrigan was appoint physician-in-ordinary to the Queen in Ireland.
- 1849 - Given an honorary MD from Trinity College
- 1855 - Application to become a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, this was originally blocked 1846
- 1856 - Became a fellow.
- 1859 - Was elected president, the first Catholic to hold the position; he was re-elected president an unprecedented four times.
- 1866 - He was created a baronet, of Cappagh and Inniscorrig in the County of Dublin and of Merrion Square in the City of Dublin.
- 1871 - Became its vice-chancellor.
- Commissioner of Education for many years.
- Member of the board of Glasnevin Cemetery
- Member of the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Committee.
- President of the Royal Zoological Society of Dublin
- President of the Dublin Pathological Society
- President of the Dublin Pharmaceutical Society
- There is a statue of Corrigan in the Graves’ Hall of the college by John Henry Foley.
- The Corrigan Ward, a cardiology ward in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin is named in his honour.
- Part of his family crest is also part of the Beaumont Hospital crest.
Death
Sir Dominic Corrigan died at Merrion Square, Dublin, on 1 February 1880, having suffered a stroke the previous December, and is buried in the crypt of St. Andrews Church on Westland Row, Dublin.
Corrigan legacy lives on in the history of medicine, and he is remembered as a pioneer in the study of heart diseases.
