16 
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1906. He was a keen Volunteer, and much 
interested in gunnery. When the war broke out he was mobilised with 
his corps and was Colonel of the 4th Royal Garrison Artillery. His 
health unfortunately broke down, and he died in Craigleith Military 
Hospital on December 1, 1915. 
Thomas Parker, M.Inst.C.E., was born at Coalbrookdale on December 22, 
1843. While still quite a young boy he entered the works of the Coal- 
brookdale Company, to which he returned after a few years spent in 
Manchester. While in charge of the electro-depositing department he 
made discoveries in connection with electric storage batteries which led 
to his starting business in Wolverhampton in partnership with Mr P. B. 
El well. This firm, although constituted originally to make accumulators, 
ere long applied itself to the construction of all kinds of electrical machines. 
Electric traction and electric locomotives especially engaged Mr Parker’s 
attention. He was also interested in many other applications of science, 
such as the refining of metals, construction of slow-combustion stoves, the 
production of smokeless fuel, and the like. 
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1892, 
and died December 5, 1915. 
Sir Alexander Russell Simpson, M.D., was born at Bathgate on April 30, 
1835. When he entered on his medical studies in the Edinburgh University 
he was at the same time apprenticed to Professor Goodsir. After graduat- 
ing he studied at the Universities of Montpelier and Berlin, and on his 
return became Assistant to his famous uncle, Sir J. Y. Simpson, who then 
held the Chair of Midwifery at Edinburgh. After five years’ private 
practice in Glasgow he was recalled to Edinburgh to succeed Sir J. Y. 
Simpson in the Chair of Midwifery ; this was in 1870, and until his 
retirement in 1905 he carried on the duties of this Chair with high 
distinction. In addition to his University work Sir Alexander Simpson 
devoted much time to religious and philanthropic work, and was strongly 
interested in the Maternity Hospital in Lauriston Place, which was erected 
as a Memorial of his distinguished uncle. He was a man of wide culture, 
and conversed with ease in several foreign languages. After his retirement 
he made a tour round the world, from which he returned with many fresh 
interests. He was knighted in 1906 in recognition of his professional zeal 
and attainments. He retained his physical and mental powers to the end, 
his death on April 6, 1916, being the result of a motor accident. 
He was elected a Fellow of our Society in 1871. 
