John Gairdner

A milestone in the history of the College was the opening of William Playfair’s magnificent Surgeons’ Hall building in Nicolson Street. It was fitting that a surgeon with an obvious affection for the College and its history should have the distinction of presiding over the opening of that building. John Gairdner, an Edinburgh surgeon, had been active in the College over his working lifetime, serving as Treasurer for many years and President from 1830. A prolific writer, he left important legacies to College history, which have provided valuable source material for subsequent historical research.

John Gairdner was the son of Captain Robert Gairdner of the Bengal Artillery. Born in Ayrshire he graduated in medicine from Edinburgh and then spent a year studying in London under Mr (afterwards Sir) Charles Bell (q.v.). Becoming a Fellow of the College in 1813 and an examiner shortly afterwards, he was to spend most of his professional life closely associated with the College. As President from 1830 to 1832 he presided over the opening of the new Playfair Surgeons Hall in Nicolson Street. The College President at this time still had a seat on Edinburgh Town Council and in this capacity he promoted the Reform Bill. Another cause which he championed was that of the extra mural Medical School and it was largely as a result of his advocacy that the extra mural school gained recognition from the University.

For many years he strived for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to be recognised as a medical qualification throughout the British Isles and the Medical Act of 1859 gave the Fellowship such legal status.

Of the many papers which he wrote, two in particular have proved to be valuable historic sources. Both were originally given as lectures in the College - “An Historical Sketch of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1860” and “A Sketch of the Early History of the Medical Profession in Edinburgh in 1864”.

The College list of Fellows contains valuable annotations in his clear, unmistakable hand.

His eldest son went on to become Sir William Tennant Gairdner, Professor of the Practice of Medicine in Glasgow University.