James Greig Smith


Prof James Greig Smith FRSE was a 19th-century Scottish surgeon and author of the highly successful textbook Abdominal Surgery.
A keen sportsman, his interests included yachting, shooting, golf and boxing. He was also a heavy smoker.

Life

He was born at Nigg, a small village just outside Aberdeen. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School under William Barrack then studied for a general degree at Aberdeen University, gaining a general degree in 1873, then studied Medicine under Prof William Pirrie graduating MB ChB in 1876. In the same year he joined Bristol Royal Infirmary as a Junior House Surgeon. In 1879 he was promoted to Senior Surgeon.
In 1883 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were William Stirling, John Charles Ogilvie Will, Joseph Lister and Henry Marshall.
From 1883 to 1890 he edited the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Journal with L. M. Griffiths. From 1888 he lectured in Surgery at University College, Bristol. In 1893 he became president of the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society, in the same year becoming professor of surgery at the university.
He died in Bristol on 29 May 1897 following a short period of pneumonia. He was only 43 years old. He is buried at Redland Green Cemetery.

Publications

  • Abdominal Surgery also translated into French, German and Italian

    Family

He was married with one daughter.