Philip Jacob White FRSE (1863–26 December 1929) was a 19th-century British physician and zoologist.

Life

He was born in Purandhar in 1863, the son of the Rev Adam White (1829-1864), a missionary for the Free Church of Scotland in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, originally from

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

. His father died of cholera, contracted from Hindu pilgrims at Sassoor, the year after his birth and Philip then returned to Scotland with his mother, Jane Littlejohn White (1832-1917). He was educated at

Fettes College Fettes College () is a co-educational independent boarding and day school in Edinburgh, Scotland, with over two-thirds of its pupils in residence on campus. The school was originally a boarding school for boys only and became co-ed in 1983. In ...

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 ...

graduating with an

MB ChB Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery ( la, Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae; abbreviated most commonly MBBS), is the primary medical degree awarded by medical schools in countries that follow the tradition of the United King ...

in 1887. Part of his studies included

zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...

and he was prizeman for his year in that field. Given this, he obtained a post as assistant lecturer in the natural history section of the University following graduation, becoming a lecturer in 1889, establishing a new course in Practical Zoology. In 1889 he began lecturing at

University College, Bangor , former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007) , image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg , image_size = 250px , caption = Arms ...

in Wales. In 1890 he took on the additional role as Director of the Biological Research Station on Puffin Island off the north Wales coast, being appointed by Prof

William Abbott Herdman Sir William Abbott Herdman FRS FRSE FLS (5 September 1858, Edinburgh – 21 July 1924) was a Scottish marine zoologist and oceanographer. His zoological author abbreviation is Herdman. Life He was born in Edinburgh the son of the artist ...

. In 1895 he instituted the first course in Agricultural Zoology at Bangor. In 1896 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were James Cossar Ewart,

Sir William Turner Sir William Turner (7 January 1832, in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster – 15 February 1916, in Edinburgh) was an English anatomist and was the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1903 to 1916. Life Turner was born in Lancaster ...

, Andrew Gray, and

John Chiene John Chiene, CB, LLD, MD, FRSE, FRCSEd (25 February 1843 – 29 May 1923) was a Scottish surgeon, who was Professor of Surgery at the University of Edinburgh during some of its most influential years. He was a founder of the Edinburgh ...

. A few months after election he accepted a post as Professor of Zoology at

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. He died on Boxing Day, 26 December 1929.

Publications

*''Algae'' : article in 11th edition of

Encyclopedia Britannica An encyclopedia (American English) or encyclopædia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge either general or special to a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articl ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Philip Jacob 1863 births 1929 deaths People educated at Fettes College Alumni of the University of Edinburgh British zoologists Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh