Taiwan
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Originally
named Formosa, meaning ‘beautiful island’, Taiwan is a densely populated island
off the south-eastern coast of China. European migration to Taiwan started 400
years ago with the Portuguese and Dutch, closely followed by the Spanish and
French. Scottish settlers were more prominent in China; however Taiwan is
associated with some notable Scots who spent time in China and the surrounding
islands.
Sir Patrick Manson was one such Scot. He worked in Shanghai’s medical
services but was persuaded by his brother to take a medical officer’s post in
Formosa in 1866. There he researched tropical medicine alongside his official
duties, and worked in a missionary hospital treating a variety of tropical
diseases. Manson made significant discoveries about malaria and its transmission
by mosquitoes, his findings becoming the basis of ‘malariology’. This ‘Father
of Tropical Medicine’ has left a lasting legacy in both the medical world and
the places in which he made his discoveries.
Today Taiwan also boasts a multi-award winning whisky distillery!