| Activity | Born in Falkirk on 18 January 1840, he was educated at Dundee, the University of St Andrews,and the University of Edinburgh, qualifying as licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and graduating M.D. in 1863. In 1864 he continued his studies in Berlin and Vienna. He returned to Scotland working at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in general practice before deciding to specialise in mental disease. In 1867 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and appointed assistant medical officer to the Birmingham Borough Asylum. In 1870 he was appointed medical superintendent of Argyll and Bute District Asylum at Lochgilphead, then at Barony Parochial Asylum (later Glasgow District Asylum at Woodilee, Lenzie). In 1875 he was elected a Fellow of the faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and he acted as Secretary of the Scottish Division of the Medico-Psychological Association from 1876-1886. In 1883 he was appointed medical superintendent at Crichton Royal Institution, where he remained in post for 24 years. His period of office at the Crichton is marked by the significant expansion of the hospital estate from 140 acres to 1232 acres, providing extensive patient accommodation in the grounds and the use of country residences. He also oversaw the building of the Crichton Memorial Church and Farm Stead; the installation of electric light and power and the introduction of the water supply from the Artesian Well. He retired in 1907 as a result of poor health, remaining in Dumfries at Mountainhall where he died on 8 March 1910. |