The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) was established in 1844 by Royal Charter to be the governing body of the veterinary profession. As a statutory regulator, the RCVS maintains a register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practice in the UK, sets standards of veterinary education and regulates professional conduct. Under its Royal Charter, the RCVS awards Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and others. The RCVS has a small collection of portraits, mostly of Presidents or Council members, which is curated by the RCVS Charitable Trust. Paintings include the first president Thomas Turner, the first female president Dame Olga Uvarov and William Dick, founder of the veterinary school in Edinburgh.