Andrew Wood MD FRCSEd FRSE LLD (1 September 1810–25 January 1881) was a 19th-century Scottish surgeon who served as President of the

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is a professional organisation of surgeons. The College has seven active faculties, covering a broad spectrum of surgical, dental, and other medical practices. Its main campus is located o ...

from 1855 to 1857.

Life

He was born at 42 South Hanover Street in Edinburgh on 1 September 1810 the son of Mary Oswald Gillespie and her husband,

William Wood William Wood may refer to: Politicians * William Wood (MP for Berkshire), Member of Parliament (MP) for Berkshire, 1395 * William Wood (15th century MP), MP for Winchester, 1413 * William Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley (1801–1881), British state ...

FRSE (1782-1858), a surgeon. He was educated at the

High School A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

in Edinburgh and then studied medicine 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 ...

receiving his doctorate (MD) in 1831. He joined his father operating from premises at 87 George Street in

Edinburgh's New Town The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Stree ...

close to their home. Wood variously worked also at the New Town Dispensary, Heriot's Hospital, Merchant Maiden Hospital, Trades Maiden Hospital and at

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, or RIE, often (but incorrectly) known as the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest v ...

(rising to Manager of the latter). In 1837 he was elected a member of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh. In 1855 he succeeded Robert Omond as President of the

, a role also previously held by his father William. In 1857 Wood was elected a member of the

Aesculapian Club The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh is one of the oldest medical dining clubs in the world. It was founded in April 1773 by Dr. Andrew Duncan. Membership of the Club is limited to 11 Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh ...

. In 1863 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being

John Hutton Balfour John Hutton Balfour (15 September 1808 – 11 February 1884) was a Scottish botanist. Balfour became a Professor of Botany, first at the University of Glasgow in 1841, moving to the University of Edinburgh and also becoming the 7th Regius Kee ...

. He died at home, 9 Darnaway Street on the

Moray Estate The Moray Estate in Edinburgh was an exclusive early 19th century building venture attaching the west side of Edinburgh's New Town. Built on an awkward and steeply sloping site, it has been described as a masterpiece of urban planning. Back ...

in western Edinburgh on 25 January 1881. He is buried in

Warriston Cemetery Warriston Cemetery is a cemetery in Edinburgh. It lies in Warriston, one of the northern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built by the then newly-formed Edinburgh Cemetery Company, and occupies around of land on a slightly sloping si ...

but also memorialised on his parents grave in

Restalrig Restalrig () is a small residential suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland (historically, an estate and independent parish). It is located east of the city centre, west of Craigentinny and to the east of Lochend, both of which it overlaps. Restalri ...

churchyard in eastern Edinburgh, beside Alexander Wood, Lord Wood, his great uncle.

Artistic recognition

Wood was portrayed by Agnes Campbell Imlach, daughter of his colleague, Francis Brodie Imlach.

Family

He was father to William Wood FRSE, also a surgeon.

References

1810 births 1881 deaths Medical doctors from Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Medical School Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Presidents of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh {{Scotland-med-bio-stub