William Tennant Gairdner facts for kids
Sir William Tennant Gairdner KCB FRCPE FRS (born November 8, 1824 – died June 28, 1907) was a very important Scottish doctor. He became a Professor of Medicine at the University of Glasgow. He helped make cities healthier and taught many future doctors.
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Early Life and Education
William Tennant Gairdner was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, John Gairdner, was also a doctor. William went to school at the Edinburgh Institution. Then, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, just like his father. He finished his medical degree in 1845. After graduating, he spent six months in Rome. He learned surgery from famous teachers like Professor Monro and Dr. Robert Halliday Gunning.
A Career in Medicine
In 1850, William Gairdner became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. A few years later, he started working as a doctor and pathologist at the the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). He also taught at the Edinburgh Extramural School of Medicine.
In 1862, he moved to Glasgow. He became a professor of medicine at the University of Glasgow and a doctor at the Western Infirmary.
Making Glasgow Healthier
The year after he arrived, people in Glasgow were very worried about how unhealthy the city was. Dr. Gairdner decided to help. He took on the job of medical officer of health for ten years. This meant he was in charge of public health for the city. Even though it meant less money for him, he worked hard to change the bad conditions he found. His efforts made a huge difference in making Glasgow a much healthier place to live.
After this important work, he focused on teaching and his private practice.
Teacher and Investigator
As a professor, Dr. Gairdner was expected to help medicine grow. He did this by working on public health and by studying heart diseases. But what made him truly special was his influence on his students. He inspired many generations of young doctors.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Gairdner received many honors during his life.
- In 1893, he became the President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
- He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists.
- He became an honorary doctor to Queen Victoria and later to King Edward VII.
- In 1898, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. This meant he was given the title "Sir."
- He was also the president of the British Medical Association in 1888.
- He received special degrees from universities in Edinburgh and Dublin.
In 1890, he retired from his professorship and moved back to Edinburgh.
His Writings
Sir William Gairdner wrote several important books. Some of his main works include:
- Clinical Medicine (1862)
- Public Health in Relation to Air and Water (1862) – This book shows his interest in making cities healthier.
- The Physician as Naturalist (1889)
- The Three Things that Abide (1903) – This book was about faith, hope, and love.
People said that his book The Physician as Naturalist showed a lot about his own thoughts and feelings. His last book, The Three Things that Abide, was described as beautiful and interesting.
Family Life
In 1870, Sir William married Helena Bridget Wright. She was from Norwich, England, and lived longer than him. They had four sons: William Henry Temple, Hugh Montgomerie, Eric Dalrymple, and Anthony Philip. They also had three daughters: Helen Christian, Ailsa Bridget, and Dorothea. His grandson was Douglas Montagu Temple Gairdner.
