William Robertson (statistician) facts for kids

Dr. William Robertson was a Scottish doctor from the 1800s. He was born on January 8, 1818, and passed away on August 25, 1882. Besides being a physician, he was also known as a statistician and a keen amateur photographer. A statistician is someone who collects and studies numbers and facts.

Early Life and Education

William Robertson was born in Edinburgh's New Town in Scotland. His father, George Robertson, worked at Register House, keeping important records. William's great-uncle, also named William Robertson, was a famous historian and leader of the University of Edinburgh.

William went to Edinburgh Academy from 1826 to 1833. After that, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He earned his first medical degree around 1837.

To learn even more, he traveled to other countries. He continued his medical studies in big cities like Paris, Vienna, and Berlin. This helped him become a very skilled doctor.

Medical Career

After finishing his studies, Dr. Robertson came back to Edinburgh. He worked as a physician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. This was a large hospital where he helped many people. He also worked at the New Town Dispensary, which provided medical care to people in the community.

In 1839, he earned his doctorate degree (MD). This is a higher medical degree. He also served as a medical officer for the Scottish Widows Fund, an organization that helped families.

Service in the Crimean War

In 1854, Dr. Robertson volunteered to help during the Crimean War. This was a big conflict involving several countries. He worked at Renkioi Hospital, which was a special hospital built to care for wounded soldiers.

During his time there, he had a camera. He took many photographs of the doctors and staff. He even took a picture of himself! This was quite unusual for the time, as photography was still new.

Work as a Statistician

In 1860, Dr. Robertson was recognized for his knowledge. He was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group of important scientists and thinkers.

Later, in 1871, he took on a new role. He became the Superintendent of Statistics at General Register House in Edinburgh. In this job, he collected and studied important numbers. He was especially interested in medical statistics. He looked at how contagious diseases spread across the city. This work helped public health officials understand and fight illnesses.

He was also involved in creating new laws about vaccination. These laws, passed in 1871 and 1873, helped protect people from diseases.

Later Life and Legacy

Dr. William Robertson lived in the same house his whole life. He passed away there on August 25, 1882, when he was 64 years old. He is buried with his parents in Warriston Cemetery in Edinburgh.

He never married or had children. Dr. Robertson left behind a good amount of money. His sister, Eliza, continued to live in their family home after he passed away.

Dr. Robertson is remembered for his dedication to medicine. He also helped us understand more about health through his work with statistics. His early photography gives us a glimpse into life during the Crimean War.

Images for kids

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  The grave of Dr. William Robertson in Warriston Cemetery.