Cruise, Francis

FRANCIS RICHARD CRUISE (1834-1912)
Physician

Francis Cruise was born in Mountjoy Square, Dublin in 1834, the son of Francis Cruise, a solicitor. He was educated at Belvedere College and later at Clongowes Wood College, before entering Trinity College Dublin to study medicine. After his graduating in 1858 Cruise travelled in America. On returning to Ireland in 1859 he was granted his Licentiate from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, was elected Fellow in 1864. He received his MD in 1861 from the University of Dublin.

Cruise began work as a junior physician in the Mater Hospital when it opened in 1861 and his association with that hospital would last throughout his life. He also lectured in the Carmichael School and was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland from 1884 to 1886.

Although he is best known for his work on endoscopy and his invention of the endoscope, Cruise published articles on a wide range of subjects including dislocations, bladder diseases and hypnotism, the latter being an area in which he developed an interest in the 1880s.

The higher education of the country generally interested him no less than the progress of professional training. He gave unstinted service as a Senator representing the Royal University constituency.

In 1859 he married Mary Frances Power and had eight sons and three daughters. Cruise was knighted in 1896, although he declined the offer of a baronetcy ten years later. In 1901, King Edward VII appointed Cruise as his physician-in-ordinary in Ireland.

Sir Francis Cruise died at his residence in Merrion Square, Dublin in March 1912 after a long illness.