Nils Abraham af Ursin

Nils Abraham af Ursin (17 August 1785 – 27 November 1851) was a Finnish physician, anatomist, and rector of the Åbo Akademi University. He was knighted in 1845.

Nils Abraham was born in Ithis parish of Kymmenegårds now Nvlands County. His father Jacob Johan Ursinus was provost and priest married to Engel Christina Nohrström, daughter of Abraham Nohrström who had moved from Dalarne in Sweden to Finland. The family name came from their origins in the 17th century in Karhula farm with karhu meaning bear which in Latin is ursus. He was educated first at home and then at the Borgå Gymnasium before entering Abo Academy in 1805. He took the philosophy candidat exam in 1809 and under professor Johan Gadolin he completed his doctorate and Artim Liberalium Magister in 1810. He then went to study medicine and took the licenciate exam in 1812 and in 1813 he defended under Joseph Pipping (later Pippingskold) a dissertation titled De morbis viarum lacrymalium cognoscendis et curandis. He received his medical doctorate in 1817. In 1812 he was appointed to a college of medicine at the Abo Academy and in 1825 he became professor of anatomy. In 1813 he was made head vaccinator for Finland. He was prorector fo the university from 1834 and in 1839 he was made rector. He resigned as rector in 1845 and later as professor emeritus. He loved swimming and promoted it for health. His favourite spot on the sea was called Ursin's rock.