John Adamson was born in 1870 at Burnside, near St Andrews. He was the eldest of the 10 children of Rachel Melville and Alexander Adamson, a farmer. He was educated in St Andrews, and obtained Licentiateship of The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in1829. After travelling abroad, he settled in 1835 in St Andrews. From 1837 to 1840, he taught chemistry and natural science to the advanced pupils of Madras College school. He was the curator of the University Museum, where he prepared natural history specimens.
He took daguerreotypes – an early form of photography on a metal plate – and was closely involved in early photographic experiments. John taught his brother Robert photography skills, and in early May 1843, Robert Adamson went to Edinburgh to pursue photography professionally.
Robert died in 1848. John might conceivably have taken his place with Hill but by that time John’s medical practice was beginning to flourish so he remained in St Andrews as a much respected physician for the rest of his life. He did, however, continue as a highly-regarded photographer and it is this dimension of his life and work that we are now seeking to celebrate.
Further reading: “Photography and the Doctor: John Adamson of St Andrews” by A.D. Morrison-Low and David Bruce (2018)
