Little is known about Kirkpatrick, but as a young man he sailed to America and practised in Charlestown, South Carolina before later returning to Britain in the early 1740s. A physician, he was a respected authority on inoculation and engaged in a number of pamphlet debates (most notably with Dr. Thomas Dale) in his characteristic long-winded style. He had literary aspirations that didn't seem to come to much; he published "a volume of extremely bad poetry" (with his usual long preface and dedication) written during his original voyage to America. He also translated some verses of Pope into Latin.