Alexander Stevenson (physician)

Alexander Stevenson MD PRCPSG FRSE (1726–1791) was an 18th-century Scottish physician who co-founded the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783. He was also twice President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (1757 and 1773).[1]

Life

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He was born in Edinburgh in 1725/26 the son of Dr John Stevenson. Some sources say he was born in Dolgain in Ayrshire.[2]

He studied medicine at Glasgow University gaining his doctorate (MD) in 1746. He set up practice in Glasgow and from 1766 to 1789 was also Professor of Medicine at Glasgow University,[3] succeeding Prof Joseph Black.[4]

On 29 October 1773 he had breakfast (also with Profs Reid and Anderson) with James Boswell and Dr Samuel Johnson during their famous tour of Scotland.[5]

He lived his later years in a house on the east side of Virginia Street.[6]

He died in Glasgow on 29 May 1791.

Family

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He was married to Jean Pickegg.

His sister, Juliana Stevenson, was mother to Thomas Charles Hope.[7] Hope succeeded him in his role as Professor of Medicine following his retiral in 1789.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. ^ "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Alexander Stevenson".
  3. ^ "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Alexander Stevenson".
  4. ^ Medical and Philosophical Commentaries 1792
  5. ^ The Life of Dr Samuel Johnson, James Boswell
  6. ^ Jones Directory of Glasgow Addresses 1787
  7. ^ "Juliana Stevenson". 2 March 2015.
  8. ^ "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Thomas Hope".