William Morison (1781–1851)

William Morison (1781–1851) was a Scottish physician and inventor primarily known for developing and marketing "Morison's Pills," a patent medicine marketed as a panacea during the 19th century.

Morison was born in Alloa, Scotland. He initially pursued a career in business, spending several years in the West Indies and later in the Baltic region. He retired from business in 1823 and settled in London.

Morison claimed to have discovered the curative properties of a combination of vegetable ingredients which he formulated into his "Universal Vegetable Medicines," better known as "Morison's Pills." These pills were aggressively marketed and widely popular despite lacking scientific or medical validation. He established the British College of Health in London to promote and sell his pills.

Morison's marketing tactics were often flamboyant and controversial. He attacked orthodox medicine and promoted his pills as a cure for a wide range of ailments, from common colds to serious diseases. His claims attracted both followers and critics. Doctors of the time often denounced his pills as quackery and potentially harmful.

Despite the controversy, Morison amassed considerable wealth from the sale of his pills. He died in Paris in 1851.

The legacy of William Morison is largely tied to the history of patent medicines and the development of regulations governing medical claims. His story highlights the challenges of separating legitimate medical treatments from unsubstantiated remedies in the pre-scientific era of medicine. He remains a notable figure in the history of medical quackery.