Joseph Black was born in Bordeaux, France, the fourth child of parents of Scottish extraction. His father was a native of Belfast engaged in the Bordeaux wine trade; his mother was a daughter of an Aberdeen man who had settled in Bordeaux. In all, Black's parents had twelve children. At the age of twelve Black was sent to school in Belfast, and around 1744 proceeded to the University of Glasgow. Black followed the standard curriculum until pressed by his father to choose a profession. He opted for medicine. Black began to study anatomy and chemistry. William Cullen had recently inaugurated lectures in chemistry that were to have a decisive influence on Black's career. Recognizing Black's aptitude, Cullen employed Black as his laboratory assistant.

In 1752 Black transferred to Edinburgh University to continue his medical training, receiving his M.D. in 1754. In 1756 Cullen arrived at Edinburgh as...