Alexander Craig Gibson (1813–1874) was an English surgeon, folklorist and antiquarian.

Life

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

, on 17 March 1813, he was the eldest son of Joseph Gibson by his wife Mary Stuart Craig, from

Moffat Moffat ( gd, Mofad) is a burgh and parish in Dumfriesshire, now part of the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area in Scotland. It lies on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. It was a centre of the wool trade and a spa town. ...

Dumfriesshire Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries or Shire of Dumfries (''Siorrachd Dhùn Phris'' in Gaelic) is a historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the historic county. I ...

. He had medical training in

Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and port on the English north west coast and near to the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. Historically in Cumberland, it lies by road south-west of Carlisle and to the north of Barrow-in-Furness. It is th ...

, and studied at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. Gibson started in practice at

Branthwaite Branthwaite is a hamlet in the borough of Allerdale, Cumbria, England. The hamlet is approximately from Workington and from Cockermouth. It is located just outside the Lake District National Park. In 1870-72 the township had a population of 2 ...

and

Ullock Ullock is a village in Cumbria, England, located at National Grid reference NY076239, approximately south west of Cockermouth and south east of Workington. The River Marron flows through the village. It is located just outside the Lake Dist ...

Allerdale Allerdale is a non-metropolitan district of Cumbria, England, with borough status. Its council is based in Workington and the borough has a population of 93,492 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 96,422 at the 2011 Census. The Bor ...

, in west Cumberland, for about two years. He moved to Coniston in 1843. In 1849 he removed to Hawkshead, as surgeon to the

Coniston copper mines Coniston Coppermine Youth Hostel in 2016 The Coniston copper mines were a copper mining operation in Lancashire, England. It was functional for hundreds of years in Coppermines Valley above Coniston Water. Today there are industrial remains of t ...

. In 1857, finding the work heavy, he settled at

Bebington Bebington () is a town and unparished area within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. Historically part of Cheshire, it lies south of Liverpool, close to the River Mersey on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula. Ne ...

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

, where he remained in practice until poor health compelled him to retire, in 1872. Gibson was a

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

; his medical qualifications were M.R.C.S. Engl. 1846, L.S.A. 1855, and L.M. Edinb. (Univ. Edinb.). He died at Bebington on 12 June 1874.

Works

Gibson wrote two books: *''The Old Man, or Ravings and Ramblings round Coniston'' (Kendal, 1849, several editions), first published in chapters in the ''Kendal Mercury'', prompted by a suggestion of Christopher North on guides to the

Lake District The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous for its lakes, forests, and mountains (or ''fells''), and its associations with William Wordswor ...

. *''The Folk-speech of Cumberland and some Districts adjacent, being Short Stories and Rhymes in the Dialect of the West Border Counties'' (Carlisle, 1869, 2nd ed. 1873), containing a ballad in the Annandale dialect, ''The Lockerbie Lycke'', first published in ''

Tait's Magazine ''Tait's Edinburgh Magazine'' was a monthly periodical founded in 1832. It was an important venue for liberal political views, as well as contemporary cultural and literary developments, in early-to-mid-nineteenth century Britain. The magazine wa ...

''. As a young man Gibson contributed to newspapers. He wrote for the ''Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire'' and for other antiquarian associations. He was author of "The Geology of the Lake Country" in

Harriet Martineau Harriet Martineau (; 12 June 1802 – 27 June 1876) was an English social theorist often seen as the first female sociologist, focusing on racism, race relations within much of her published material.Michael R. Hill (2002''Harriet Martineau: Th ...

's ''Guide to the Lake District''; and of articles in medical and other periodicals. ''L’al Dinah Grayson'' was arranged by

Jeffrey Mark Jeffrey Mark (1898 – December 1965) was an English composer, folk song collector and writer. Life and career Mark was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, the son of a cabinet maker, and in 1909 won a scholarship to the Carlisle Grammar School. At 16 ...

, one of his four dialect settings published by OUP in 1928.Mark, Jeffrey. ''Four North Country Songs'' (1928), Oxford University Press

Family

Gibson married in May 1844 Sarah, daughter of John Bowman of Hoadyood in

Lamplugh Lamplugh () is a scattered community and civil parish located in West Cumbria on the edge of the English Lake District and historically part of Cumberland. It had a population of 763 in 2001, increasing to 805 at the 2011 Census. The main A50 ...

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson, Alexander Craig 1813 births 1874 deaths English surgeons English folklorists Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London People from Harrington, Cumbria People from Bebington