The Regius Professorship of Physic is one of the oldest

professorships Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a 'person who professes'. Professors ...

at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, founded by

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

in 1540. "Physic" is an old word for

medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

(and the root of the word 'physician'): it does not refer to the study of

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

. The Regius Professor of Physic is ''ex officio'' head of the School of Clinical Medicine at the University.

Regius Professors of Physic

Official coat of arms

According to a grant of 1590, the office of Regius Professor of "Physic" at Cambridge has a

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

with the following

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...

:''A Complete Guide to Heraldry'' by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (1909), pp. 587-588.

References

List of Regius Professors of Physic
at A Cambridge Alumni Database {{DEFAULTSORT:Professor of Physic, Regius, Cambridge Physic, Regius School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge 1540 establishments in England Physic, Cambridge Professorships in medicine