of Edinburgh, Session 1870 - 71 . 
247 
peculiar vocation, than any one before in Edinburgh. He was an 
agreeable companion, a fast friend, and possessed of much general 
knowledge. He will long be remembered as a skilful dentist, and 
a highly respected citizen of Edinburgh. 
James Young Simpson was born 7th June 1811, and died 6th 
May 1870, being at the time Professor of Midwifery in the Uni¬ 
versity of Edinburgh. His birthplace was Bathgate. The house 
in which he was born, is, I understand, still standing. It is a 
two-storeyed slated house, part of which has been converted by his 
brother Alexander into a hall used for meetings of various kinds. 
His father kept a baker’s shop. His grandfather was a small 
farmer. He was the youngest of seven sons ; and was sent by 
his father to the parish school. 
He was sent to Edinburgh University to study medicine, and 
his expenses there were paid by his eldest and now only surviving 
brother, Mr Alexander Simpson of Bathgate, to whose kindness 
and brotherly care he was infinitely indebted. His parents both 
died when he was young. Whilst studying in Edinburgh, he 
lodged with his brother David, then in business as a baker in 
Stockbridge. 
His taste for books in his boyhood was remarkable. He was 
constantly to be seen sitting at the corner of the fireplace devour¬ 
ing any books he could get, and oblivious of the talking or noise 
around him. 
In the Humanity Class, he attracted the attention and patronage 
of Professor Pillans, who, learning that he wished to study medi¬ 
cine, but that he was scant of funds, recommended him to com¬ 
pete for a bursary endowed for the support of boys of the name of 
Stewart or Simpson. This advice he followed. An extended 
study of Latin and Greek was however required. He succeeded in 
gaining the bursary, thereby drawing £10 yearly for three years. 
In the year 1832 he obtained his medical degree, and was imme 
diately afterwards elected by his fellow-students—among whom he 
had become a favourite—to be Senior President of the Boya 
Medical Society of Edinburgh,—an institution which, for about 
a century and a half, has been supported chiefly by the University 
medical students. 
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