Sir William Fergusson, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Fergusson, 1st Baronet (born 20 March 1808, died 10 February 1877) was a very skilled Scottish surgeon. He was known for his amazing surgical abilities and for trying to save parts of the body during operations. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.
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The Early Life of a Surgeon
William Fergusson was born in Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, on 20 March 1808. His father was James Fergusson from Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire. William went to school in Lochmaben and later attended the high school and University of Edinburgh.
When he was fifteen, William wanted to study law. However, he soon found that law was not for him. At seventeen, he changed his mind and decided to study medicine, which his father had originally hoped for.
Becoming a Doctor
William became a dedicated student of Dr. Robert Knox, a famous anatomist. Anatomy is the study of the body's structure. William was very good at building things, and he made a special machine that impressed Dr. Knox. Because of this, at just twenty years old, William became a demonstrator for Knox's class, which had 400 students!
In 1828, Fergusson earned his license to practice medicine. In 1829, he became a fellow of the Edinburgh College of Surgeons. He loved studying anatomy and often spent 12 to 16 hours a day in the dissecting room. Two of his perfectly prepared body parts are still kept in the Edinburgh College of Surgeons museum today.
Soon after becoming a qualified doctor, Fergusson started teaching parts of anatomy lectures with Dr. Knox. He also taught about surgical anatomy, which is how the body's structure relates to surgery.
A Rising Star in Surgery
In 1831, William Fergusson became a surgeon at the Royal Public Dispensary of Edinburgh. That same year, he performed a difficult operation to tie the subclavian artery. This procedure had only been done twice before in Scotland.
On 10 October 1833, he married Helen Ranken. Her family was wealthy, which made his life more comfortable. However, he did not stop working hard to become a successful surgeon. By 1836, he was elected surgeon to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He also became a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. At this time, he was one of the top surgeons in Scotland, alongside James Syme.
Moving to London and Royal Recognition
In 1840, Fergusson accepted a new job as a professor of surgery at King's College London. He also became a surgeon at King's College Hospital. He moved to London and quickly became very busy.
His practice grew fast, and many students and visitors came to King's College Hospital to see his amazing surgical skills. His reputation spread, and he began to work for the royal family.
Serving the Royal Family
In 1849, he was appointed surgeon to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. In 1855, he became surgeon extraordinary to the prince. Then, in 1867, he was made sergeant-surgeon to the queen, a very high honor.
For many years, William Fergusson was considered the best surgeon in London. He was chosen as president of the Pathological Society of London in 1859. He also became part of the council of the College of Surgeons in 1861 and was its president in 1870.
He gave important lectures on human anatomy and surgery in 1864 and 1865, which were later published. In 1873, he was president of the British Medical Association. In 1875, he received an honorary degree from Edinburgh University.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1866, he was given the title of baronet, which is a special honor from the Queen. His former students celebrated this by giving him a valuable silver gift.
He stopped being a professor of surgery at King's College in 1870. However, he continued to teach and work as a senior surgeon at King's College Hospital until he passed away.
Sir William Fergusson died in London on 10 February 1877, after a long illness. He was buried in West Linton, Scotland, next to his wife. A portrait of him can be seen at the London College of Surgeons.
What Made Him a Great Surgeon?
William Fergusson was known for two main things: being a brilliant surgeon and a "conservative" surgeon. Conservative surgery means trying to save as much of the body as possible during an operation, instead of removing entire parts.
Saving Body Parts
Fergusson greatly improved this idea, even though other surgeons like James Syme had also done similar work. Fergusson believed that no part of the body, no matter how small, was too unimportant to try and save if it could be useful.
He was especially famous for operations on:
- Harelip and cleft palate: These are conditions where there is a split in the lip or the roof of the mouth. He performed hundreds of successful operations for harelip.
- Joints: He was skilled at removing parts of joints, like the hip, knee, and elbow, while trying to keep the rest of the limb working.
- Kidney stones: He performed operations to remove or break up stones in the bladder.
- Amputations: When a limb had to be removed, he did it with great skill.
His success came from his deep knowledge of anatomy and how muscles work. He also designed new surgical tools, like special forceps and knives.
His Surgical Style
Fergusson planned every detail of his operations very carefully beforehand. He made sure he was ready for anything that might happen. When he started an operation, he worked incredibly fast and quietly. He would even apply all the bandages himself, leaving very few traces of his work. He was always on time and hated wasting time.
While he wasn't the best at giving long lectures outside the operating room, his comments during surgery were very helpful and educational for students. He was also very kind and generous to his students.
Personal Life and Character
William Fergusson was a talented man outside of surgery too. He was an excellent carpenter and even made his own dissecting tools and a special instrument for kidney stone removal. He also played the violin, loved fishing, and enjoyed plays.
He was incredibly strong and rarely got sick until his final illness. He was tall, dignified, and had a friendly but sharp expression. He enjoyed jokes and was very welcoming to guests. He often helped clergymen, actors, authors, and governesses for free. He also helped many of his students start their careers, and many of them became famous surgeons themselves. He never forgot a student's face.
Family Life
On 10 October 1833, William Fergusson married Helen Hamilton Ranken. They had two sons, Sir James Ranken Fergusson and Charles Hamilton, who became a major in the army. They also had three daughters.
Images for kids
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Burial vault of William Fergusson in St. Andrews Kirkyard at West Linton
