Matthew Guthrie

Dr Matthew Guthrie FRS FRS FRSE FSA FRSA (1743–1807) was a Scottish physician, mineralogist and traveller who rose to be councillor to the Russian royal family. He made extensive studies of Russian history and folklore, and did much to foster international relationships between Russia and Scotland and promote Russian culture. He was one of the foreign (in terms of location) founders of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

His life closely paralleled that of Dr John Grieve and they were undoubtedly acquainted and probably friends. He was also a friend of John Howard who had also visited Russia.

He was born in Edinburgh 1743 in Scotland as son of Henry (Harie) Guthrie, 9th Baron Haukerton (Halkerton) (1709–1784) and grandson of Rev Gideon Guthrie of Fetteresso and later Bishop of Brechin. His mother Rachel Milne (1719–1746) had died when he was very young. His father abandoned his title as Baron in 1747 following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 to avoid ill-feeling. His father remarried, to Elizabeth Tytler of Woodhouselee, younger sister of William Tytler. The family lived in the Nicholson area of Edinburgh, where the father worked as a lawyer in "Durie's Office".

Matthew studied at the High School in Edinburgh then studied Medicine at Edinburgh University. He matriculated in 1764 but there is no record of his graduation. He does appear to have trained as a surgeon. He went to Russia in 1769 and stayed there for most of his life. His initial role was as physician to the 1st and 2nd Imperial Corps of Noble Cadets in St Petersburg. He was granted a doctorate (MD) in St Petersburg in 1776. He later became a personal Councillor to both Tsar Alexander I and his wife, Empress Elizabeth.

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