History of Death Virtual Tour

This exhibition took place at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh's Physicians' Gallery from 27 October 2023 to 5 July 2024.

This tour explores changing views of death from antiquity to the present day.

It uses the remarkable collections of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and its library - Scotland’s oldest and largest medical library - to uncover the history of death. An original copy of Napoleon Bonaparte’s post-mortem, written on Saint Helena Island, and a diary documenting the last days of celebrated Edinburgh physician James Young Simpson are displayed alongside a broadside proclaiming the execution of famous Edinburgh murderer William Burke.

To find out more visit our After Life: A History of Death webpages.