William Dease

William Dease, one of the founders of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and its first professor of Surgery, was born in Lisney Co. Cavan. He studied surgery in Dublin and Paris and was appointed surgeon to the United Hospitals of St Nicholas and St Catherine.

Dease was an original member of the Dublin Society of Surgeons who sought to dissolve the connection that linked surgeons with barbers. The granting of a charter to the College in 1784 replaced the original charter of barbers and surgeons, enabling the College to promote and advance surgery in Ireland.

Dease published his well known treatises on head-injuries, midwifery and the radical cure of hydrocele.