John Struthers (anatomist)

For the Scottish poet, see John Struthers (poet).

Formal portrait of Sir John Struthers in 1890.

John Struthers
Born	February 21, 1823(1823-02-21) Brucefield, Dunfermline, Scotland
Died	February 24, 1899(1899-02-24) Edinburgh, Scotland
Resting place	Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Education	University of Edinburgh
Occupation	anatomist, physician, professor
Employer	University of Edinburgh, University of Aberdeen
Spouse	Christina Margaret Alexander
Children	five sons, four daughters
Parents	Father – Alexander Struthers Mother – Mary Reid

Sir John Struthers, LRCSE, MD, LLD, FRCSE, FRSE (born February 21, 1823(1823-02-21), Brucefield, near Dunfermline, Scotland – d. February 24, 1899(1899-02-24)) was Professor of Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen.

Medical career

After completing his medical training in Edinburgh in 1845, Struthers specialized in anatomy and was appointed as Lecturer of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh and as a surgeon at the Royal Infirmary. In 1863, Struthers became the first Regius Chair of Anatomy at the recently formed University of Aberdeen. He dedicated himself to teaching, writing a number of manuscripts on teaching and learning. Many of the methods he used are relevant today. His Doctor of Laws degree was an honorary one, granted by the University of Glasgow in 1885.

Scientific work

Struthers became famous for his dissection and illustrations of the Tay Whale

Struthers was one of the first advocates of the theory of evolution, speaking publicly and corresponding with Charles Darwin about observations he made during his comparative anatomy studies

The Tay whale

Struthers became popularly famous for his dissection of the Tay Whale - his largest specimen.

Life and family

John Struthers' family tree

Struthers' wife Christina was the sister of John Alexander, chief clerk to Bow Street Police Court. Struthers was father-in-law of David Orme Masson, grandfather of Sir James Irvine Orme Masson, and father-in-law of Simon Somerville Laurie.

Retirement

On retiring from the University of Aberdeen, Struthers returned to Edinburgh, where he was president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1895–1897). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1894, and was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1898, one year before his death following a "serious attack of influenza.". He is buried in Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Bibliography

Struthers authored over 70 manuscripts and books, including:

• Struthers, John (1854). Anatomical and Physiological Observations. Edinburgh: Sutherland and Knox. 
• Struthers, John (1867). Historical Sketch of the Edinburgh Anatomical School. Edinburgh: Maclachlan and Stewart. 
• Struthers, John (1889). Memoir on the Anatomy of the Humpback Whale, Megaptera Longimana. Edinburgh: Maclachlan. 

Anatomical drawings

• Anatomical Drawings by John Struthers
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