Robert Willan, the father of modern dermatology, was born on Nov. 12, 1757, at the Hill, near Sedbergh, Yorkshire, England. He was brought up in the principles of the Society of Friends. He graduated M.D. at Edinburgh in the summer of 1780 and went to London at the age of 23. In 1783, he was appointed physician to the Public Dispensary in Carey Street, London. Here he began his systematic studies of diseases of the skin. His work of classification and description of cutaneous diseases was presented to the Medical Society of London and was awarded the Fothergilian medal. Willan was a prolific writer. His friends and contemporaries admired him and had the greatest regard for his abilities. He died of heart failure on April 17, 1812, in Madeira.