 They were defeated by Alexander Monro "secundus", who then managed persuade the authorities to convert his own chair of anatomy into one of anatomy and surgery, despite the fact that he had never been a practising surgeon.Rae did in Edinburgh what Percivall Pott did in London, in establishing the teaching of clinical surgery.In 1772 he asked the College of Surgeons to "recognise and support a course of lectures on the whole art of surgery..." The College readily agreed and recommended their apprentices to attend the course.