Background
He was born on 17 April 1812 in Ayr to the Scottish physician David Maclagan FRSE (1785–1865), and Jane Whiteside.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
book
Nugae Canorae Medicae: Lays by the Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary
(Early collection of poetry.)
Early collection of poetry.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000864A5M/?tag=2022091-20
Douglas Maclagan
Edit ProfileEducation
Douglas was educated at the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1833.
Career
He served as president of 5 learned societies: the Royal Medical Society (1832), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1859-1861), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (1884-1887), the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1890-1895), and the Royal Scottish Society of Arts (1900). He was the elder brother of William Dalrymple Maclagan, who would become Archbishop of New York And of the engineer and soldier Sir Robert Maclagan.
He subsequently toured hospitals in London and in continental Europe with James Young Simpson.
On his return to Scotland, Maclagan was appointed Assistant Surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He lectured on Materia Medica at the Extramural School of Medicine 1845-1862.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1843, his proposer being Robert Christison. He served as their Curator 1856-1878, Vice President 1878-1890, and President 1890-1895.
Maclagan was appointed to the Chair of Medical Jurisprudence and Public Health at the University of Edinburgh in 1862, retiring in 1897.
This included some of the world"s first lectures on Forensic Science. He died at home, 28 Heriot Row in Edinburgh on 5 April 1900. He is buried in his father"s plot, against the north wall of the original cemetery, backing onto the north extension.
In his role both as a toxicologist and forensic scientist Maclagan gave evidence in many trials, including some very notable cases: Junior assistant to Robert Christison in the evidence at the Burke and Hare trial Affirmed the victim was poisoned by arsenic in the Madeleine Smith trial (1857) Affirmed use of poison in the trial of Eugene Marie Chantrelle (1878) President of the Royal Medical Society 1832 President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 1859-1861 President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 1884-1887 President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1890-1895 Honorary Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Britain President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts 1900 Brigade Surgeon to the Royal Company of Archers Maclagan was married to Elizabeth Allan Thomson (d1885).
They had twin daughters who died in infancy in 1842, plus a further infant daughter died in 1850. A son, David Philip Maclagan, was a surgeon in the Royal Navy and died in Honduras in 1860, aged only 23.
Nellie, their only surviving daughter, died in 1892 aged 48.
Achievements
Works
book
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Nugae Canorae Medicae: Lays by the Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary
(Early collection of poetry.)
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Nugae Canorae Medicae: Lays by the Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary
Connections
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Born
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Died
April 5, 1900 (aged 87) -
Nationality
Scottish