Thomas Black (1819-1864) was a highly-respected surgeon from Anstruther, Fife
Originally from the Wemyss area, he sailed to Greenland twice as a surgeon on whaling ships before setting up in his profession in the East Neuk burgh in 1839. He ontained Licentiateship of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh the following year.
Sadly, in the early hours of February 29, 1864, he died in terrible circumstances. Gaslights used at the time were extinguished at 10pm and in the darkness Thomas, who was returning late the night before from visiting a patient in Pittenweem, fell into Anstruther Harbour, where he became stuck in the mud and drowned in the incoming tide.
Even more tragically, it was reported that his cries for help were heard for two hours, but it seems no one had been willing to go out in the darkness to investigate. He left a wife and four children.
Today, his portrait hangs in Anstruther Town Hall.
