Alexis Thomson

Born in Edinburgh in 1863, he studied at the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh, graduating in medicine with honours. He went on to build a distinguished career in surgery and anatomy, and later became Professor of Systematic Surgery at the University of Edinburgh, a post he held from 1909 to 1923.

Alongside his medical work, he wrote and edited important surgical texts. He is especially remembered for Manual of Surgery, written with Alexander Miles, a practical reference that circulated widely and helped train generations of readers in the fundamentals of surgical practice.

He was also recognized beyond Scotland, becoming an honorary member of both the French Association of Surgeons and the American Society of Clinical Surgery. He died in 1924, leaving behind a reputation as both a respected teacher and a careful medical author.