Key Object Page

The Skull of John Brogan

Our Object of the Week is the skull and a plaster cast of the head and neck of John Brogan, a companion of Burke and Hare who assisted in conveying bodies to Dr Knox’s School of anatomy. John Brogan was seriously burnt as a child. The scars that remained resulted in scarring which deformed his face and displaced his lower jaw. He died of cholera in 1834 and the skull was given to The Royal College of Surgeons. In the early part of the 19th century, it was customary for the public to be allowed access to the collections on the Queen’s birthday. On one such occasion, the skull was identified by Brogan’s brother, who demand the skull be returned to the family. Instead of arranging for the skull to be buried, as promised, Brogan’s brother sold the skull to a Dentist, whose collection was given to the College in 1869. The skull and death cast are on display in the Museum.