User:Ewingdo/sandbox/Peter Christian Abildgaard

Peter Christian Abildgaard (December 22, 1740 – January 21, 1801) was a Danish physician and veterinarian.

Early life and education
Abildgaard was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 22, 1740. His father Søren Abildgaard was one of Denmark's curators. His mother was Anne Margrethe. Not much is known about his childhood. He attended the Cathedral School in Copenhagen beginning in 1752. He was taken out of the Cathedral School in 1756 by his father, as there was no money for him to continue his studies. He then apprenticed with the well-known apothecary Cappel. He learned chemistry from F. H. Müller. Abildgaard worked during the day as an apothecary and at night he studied chemistry and performed experiments. Over the objections of his parents, he entered the University of Copenhagen in 1760, where he studied chemistry. He completed his bachelor's degree in 1762 writing a thesis entitled "The Value of Chemistry in the Economy of the State".

Abildgaard then studied medicine at Copenhagen Medical College. There he excelled and was among three selected medical students who were sent to Lyon, France by Frederick V of Denmark to learn at the city's veterinary school to treat the rampant cattle disease. Recognizing the importance to his native Denmark, this began a 2 1/2-year study of veterinarian science and veterinarian medicine. In addition, he studied chemistry, anatomy, materia medica, obstetrics, and surgery at the famous Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon.

Abildgaard returned to Copenhagen in 1766 and attempted to establish a school of veterinary medicine. This proved challenging as his supporter King Frederick V died that year and his successor had little interest in the establishment of a school of veterinary medicine. Abildgaard studied cattle plague for two more years and turned his attention back to medicine. He received his doctor's degree in 1768, writing a thesis entitled "Blood Letting in Suppression of Menstruation."

Career
Abildgaard returned to the practice of veterinary medicine in 1771 with a focus on stud horses and the royal stables. With the support of Prime Minister J. F. Struensee and Bernstoriff, a member of the government, the Copenhagen school of veterinary medicine opened in 1773 with Abildgaard serving as the principal director. In 1776-1777, the school became a royal institution. Abildgaard continued to serve as a veterinarian and a physician and did not finally retire from the practice of medicine until 1782. He then devoted his time and energy to veterinary medicine.

's request, he founded in 1773 at Christianshavn Veterinærskolen, which is one of Europe's oldest and whose first library consisted of Abildgaard's own book collection.

In 1858, the school was moved to Frederiksberg as the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, which on 1 January 2007 merged with the University of Copenhagen, where both veterinary and agricultural subjects are taught.

Abildgaard also founded the Natural History Society in 1789. To his disciples belonged the Swedish anatomist Arvid Florman. He was also a book collector himself, and at his death sold his collection of 2,156 volumes to the Veterinary School.

Later life and death
Abildgaard died January 21, 1801 and was buried in Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen. A monument has been erected there with sculptures made by his brother, Nicolai A. Abildgaard (a well-known painter and at the time director of the Academy of Fine Arts), and inscriptions written by his friend Christian Colbjørnsen.