A WREATH has been laid to mark the birthday of a celebrated Musselburgh doctor who helped the community during the cholera epidemic of 1832.

Although the tribute to David Macbeth Moir, who was the town’s medical officer, takes place annually, it was particularly poignant this year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

In a low-key event, David Stillie, Old Musselburgh Club president, was accompanied by club treasurer Ian Wood, who took a photograph of the wreath-laying commemoration at the statue of the physician, on Mall Avenue, to mark the 223rd anniversary of his birth.

Usually in attendance are Iain and Marion Moir – descendants of Dr Moir – from Edinburgh and a larger number of club members, who were unable to pay their respects this year due to the social distancing regulations.

Mr Stillie said: “It is interesting that in the midst of this pandemic, we should be commemorating the life of a dedicated physician who worked so hard during the cholera epidemic in 1832.”

A service that traditionally takes place at a local church was also cancelled due to restrictions.

Born in Musselburgh on January 5, 1798, Dr Macbeth Moir worked as a doctor throughout his life and was the town’s medical officer in 1832, during the cholera epidemics which badly affected the local community.

Also a writer, he adopted the Greek letter Delta as his pen name.

Mr Stillie outlined Dr Moir’s life, saying he was the second of four children and attended Musselburgh Grammar School for six years, learning Greek, Latin, French, geography and algebra.

At the age of 13, he was apprenticed to Dr Stewart in Musselburgh and showed an aptitude for the medical profession.

He studied medicine at Edinburgh University and gained a diploma in surgery in 1816. A year later, he became a partner in Dr Brown’s practice in Musselburgh.

Mr Stillie described him as “a man of energy and compassion, as can be seen from his unstinting work attending to patients, preparing reports and writing of his observations on the progress of the 1832 cholera epidemic that ravaged the country”.

His pamphlet, entitled ‘Practical Observations on Malignant Cholera’, sold out within two days.

Dr Moir’s writing career started in 1812, with two essays published locally, and from 1816 onwards he was a regular contributor to the Scots Magazine, the Edinburgh Magazine, Fraser’s Magazine and the Edinburgh Literary Gazette.

He also contributed some 400 works to Blackwood’s Magazine.

Mr Stillie highlighted Dr Moir’s poem written for the Burns Festival in 1844 and later published in Blackwood’s Magazine, and his poem ‘Scenery of the River Esk’.

Dr Moir married in 1829 and had 11 children, three of whom died in childhood. He was encouraged by his peers, including Wordsworth, Tennyson and Dickens, to publish his Domestic Verses , which are considered to be some of his best work.

A member of the Kirk Session at St Michael’s Church, he was also a councillor.

Dr Moir was injured as a result of a carriage accident, which left him lame, and a further injury in 1851 affected his general health, leading to his death in Dumfries later that year.

Mr Stillie said: “He was held in such high regard by the townspeople of Musselburgh, particularly for his work during the cholera epidemic, that his body was returned to the town and he was given a civic funeral attended by the town council, local dignitaries and many of his literary contemporaries.

“A public subscription funded the statue at the end of the Rennie Bridge, which was sculpted by the famous local sculptor Alexander Handyside Ritchie.”

He added: “David Macbeth Moir was a man o’ pairts, educated, cultured, compassionate and it is regrettable that so little is remembered of his literary work and his unremitting commitment to the people of this town at a time of great tragedy.”