James Sanderson (military surgeon) facts for kids

James Sanderson (born May 21, 1812 – died March 28, 1891) was a Scottish military doctor from the 1800s. He was also very interested in weather and climate. He traveled a lot and worked in India for many years before returning to Scotland.

Early Life and Education

James Sanderson was born in a town called Dunbar, Scotland, on May 21, 1812. He went to school at Dunbar Grammar School. After that, he decided to study medicine. He attended the University of Edinburgh to become a doctor.

Adventures in India

Around 1830, James Sanderson joined the naval part of the East India Company. This was a very powerful British trading company that also had its own army. He sailed on ships to many faraway places. He visited St Helena, Bombay (now Mumbai), Calcutta (now Kolkata), and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He also traveled to China and other parts of the East Indies.

In 1837, he became an Assistant Surgeon for the company's Madras section in India. He was sent to a place called Ootacamund in the Neilgherry Hills. There, he managed a sanitorium. A sanitorium was a special hospital where people could go to rest and get better.

Helping People in Madras

During the 1840s and 1850s, James Sanderson became a very important doctor. He was the main surgeon in Madras (now Chennai), a big city in India. He worked for four different governors, who were like the leaders of the region. These included Marquess of Tweeddale and Lord Harris.

While in India, he did many important things. He helped create gardens in the Neilgherry Hills. He also worked to make jails better and set up medical clinics across southern India. He even took care of important army leaders like General Sir George Berkeley.

After traveling around the provinces with Lord Harris, he returned to Britain in 1859. But he went back to India in 1861 to work for another governor, Sir William Denison. He also briefly served Sir Hope Grant.

Return to Scotland

In 1862, James Sanderson moved back to Edinburgh, Scotland. He lived at 17 Claremont Crescent. In Edinburgh, he joined the Meteorological Society. This group studied weather. He also helped with the Medical Mission, which provided medical care to people in need.

Studying Weather and Science

In 1863, James Sanderson was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a special honor for people who have done important work in science. He also joined the Scottish Meteorological Society that same year. He became the Honorary Treasurer for the Ben Nevis Observatory in 1883. This observatory was a place where scientists studied weather on top of a very tall mountain.

Even though he was a very experienced doctor, he still loved to learn. With his friend Dr. Donald Beith, he attended medical night-classes. He did this just to keep his medical knowledge up to date.

Later Years

James Sanderson eventually retired. He lived at 8 Manor Place in Edinburgh. He passed away on March 28, 1891, when he was 78 years old. He was buried in Dean Cemetery on April 1, 1891.