Grave of Alexander Hugh Freeland Barbour, Dean Cemetery

Alexander Hugh Freeland Barbour LLD FRSE

FRCPE The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that sets the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by Royal charter ...

(7 January 1856 – 11 June 1927) was a Scottish gynaecologist and noted medical author. He was President of the

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that sets the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by Royal charter ...

and co-author of the world-acclaimed ''Manual of Gynaecology''.

Life

Barbour was born on 7 January 1856 in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, the youngest son of Margaret Fraser Sandeman and George Freeland Barbour of Bonskeid (1810-1887), a Director of the North British Railway. He graduated from 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 ...

with an MA and BSc in natural sciences, continuing at the University to study medicine. He graduated with an MD in 1884, having won a gold medal for his thesis ''On Spinal Deformity in relation to Obstetrics''. With his sister and others (including

Patrick Geddes Sir Patrick Geddes (2 October 1854 – 17 April 1932) was a British biologist, sociologist, Comtean positivist, geographer, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning ...

) Barbour co-founded the Edinburgh Social Union which restored housing areas such as Chessels Court (1897) and

White Horse Close White Horse Close, or "Whitehorse Close", is an enclosed courtyard off the Canongate at the foot of the Royal Mile at the eastern end of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. History It was formerly known as "Ord's Close" ...

(1902) to new social ideals. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh 1914 to 1916. In later life he is listed as living at 4

Charlotte Square 300px, Robert Adam's palace-fronted north side Charlotte Square is a garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is located at the west end of George Street and was intend ...

, an elite Edinburgh address. He died in Edinburgh and was buried in Dean Cemetery on the lower concealed south terrace.

Family

In 1889 he married Margaret Nelson Brown (1864-1930). Their son

George Brown Barbour George Brown Barbour FGS FRSE FRSSA (1890–1977) was an internationally renowned Scottish geologist and educator. Life He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 22 August 1890. He was the son of the eminent gynaecologist, Alexander Hugh Freeland B ...

(1890-1977) became a geologist, spending time in America and China, and is known as the discoverer of the

Xiaochangliang Xiaochangliang () is the site of some of the earliest paleolithic remains in East Asia, located in the Nihewan (泥河灣) Basin in Yangyuan County, Hebei, China, most famous for the stone tools discovered there. Stone tools The tool forms disco ...

site. Barbour's sister, Margaret Stewart Barbour, married

Alexander Russell Simpson Sir Alexander Russell Simpson FRCPE FRSE LLD (20 April 1835–6 April1916) was a Scottish physician and Professor of Midwifery at the University of Edinburgh. He invented the axis-traction forceps also known as the obstetrics forceps which ...

. Their son was

George Freeland Barbour Simpson Dr George Freeland Barbour Simpson FRSE Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, FRCPE Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, FRCSE Justice of the Peace, JP (21 September 1874 – 8 April 1958) was a 20th-century Scottish physician and Gynaecolo ...

. Alexander Russell Simpson was a near neighbour to Barbour, living at 52 Queen Street.

Religious affiliations

Barbour was for 40 years an elder at St George's United Free Church, Edinburgh, ministered by his brother-in-law Dr

Alexander Whyte ''For the British colonial administrator, see Alexander Frederick Whyte'' Rev Alexander Whyte D.D.,LL.D. (13 January 18366 January 1921) was a Scottish divine. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1898. ...

, having joined the church when a student. He was president of the Scottish Auxiliary of the China Mission of the English Presbyterian Church, succeeding his father.

Publications

*The Anatomy of Labour (1889) *Manual of Gynaecology (2 volumes) co-written with Dr

David Berry Hart Dr David Berry Hart FRSE FRCPE (12 October 1851 – 10 June 1920) was a Scottish gynaecological surgeon and academic. Life David Berry Hart was born in Edinburgh on 12 October 1851. He graduated M.B., C.M. from the University of Edinburgh in ...

(1882) *Gynaecological Diagnosis and Treatment, co-written with Benjamin P. Watson (1913)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbour, Alexander Hugh Freeland 1856 births 1927 deaths Medical doctors from Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of the University of Edinburgh Scottish surgeons 19th-century Scottish medical doctors Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Presidents of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh