James Auchinleck was the nephew and heir of a "writer" (or lawyer) in Perth. He lived in Edinburgh in the Tron parish.
In 1702, he participated in a series of anatomy demonstrations in the course of a public dissection. His subject was the articulations and the rest of the skeleton' and the body was that of David Mylles who had been executed for incest with his sister.
This was the first public dissection undertaken by the Incorporation of Surgeons and it had its origins eight years previously when, in 1694, Archibald Pitcairne wrote to a colleague in London that ‘he proposed to make better improvements in anatomy than have been made at Leyden these thirty years'. Apparently at his instigation, Alexander Monteath who was Deacon of the Incorporation of Surgeons from 1695 to 1697 petitioned the Town Council for bodies for dissection, in particular ‘those who die in the Correction House and foundlings who die upon the breast'. The Council agreed that he should be given bodies for a period of thirteen years and that he should have a room for dissection. A few days later the Incorporation made a similar request and that too was granted on the express condition that ‘the petitioners shall befor the terme of Michallmas 1697 years, build, repair, and have in readiness, ane anatomicale theatre where they shall once a year (a subject offering) have ane publick anatomicall dissection, as much as can be showen upon one body, and if the failzie thir presents to be voyd and null'.
The building then occupied by the Surgeons was in very poor condition and at a meeting in June 1696 they unanimously decided to proceed with the construction of a new building to meet the condition imposed upon them by the Burgh Council. It included a Hall, an Anatomical Theatre and a laboratory and was completed on time, being ready for occupation by Michaelmas 1697. In the grounds there was also a bagnio or bathhouse.
To enhance the appearance of their fine new building, portraits of the various Members of the Incorporation of Surgeons were commissioned. The artist for most of them was Sir John Baptiste de Medina. Auchinleck's portrait was one of these.
