Biography of James Finlayson

James Finlayson graduated from the University MB (1867), MD (1869) and LLD (1899). He was a visiting physician at the Western Infirmary for over 30 years. Finlayson was born in Glasgow on the 22 November 1840 to Thomas Finlayson, a manufacturer, and Georgina Campbell. He was their third son.

Finlayson received his early education at the High School of Glasgow, and began to study medicine at the University in 1863. He graduated MB in 1867 with his thesis entitled ‘The value of quantitative methods of investigation in medicine and allied sciences’. In 1869 he received his MD, and was admitted as a fellow of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow two years later.

Finlayson worked as a house surgeon at the Children's Hospital, Manchester after graduating, but later moved back to Glasgow to become assistant to Sir William Tennant Gairdner at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. In 1875 was elected physician to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. Additionally, Finlayson was a physician and later consulting physician to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow.

A prolific writer on various aspects of medicine, Finlayson wrote 150 papers, 60 of which appeared in the ‘Glasgow Medical Journal. He gave have a number of lectures at Glasgow under the title of ‘Bibliographical Demonstrations on Hippocrates, Galen , Herophilus, and Erasistratus ,(1893–5). He passed away at his residence in Glasgow; his remains were cremated at the Western Necropolis.

Summary

James Finlayson
Born 22 November 1840.
Died 9 October 1906.
University Link: Graduate
GU Degrees: MB, 1867; MD, 1869; LLD, 1899;
Occupation categories: physicians
Record last updated: 16th May 2017

University Connections

University Roles

• Graduate [View James Finlayson's record in the list of graduates]

Buildings

• Western Infirmary