Bot at 13:05, 5 October 2022

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{{Short description|Scottish army surgeon (1828–1918)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Sir Alexander Christison, 2nd Baronet''' (26 August 1828 – 14 October 1918) was a member of the Edinburgh Christison medical dynasty. He was one of the first doctors to write on the medical benefits of [[cannabis]].

He spent most of his working life in [[India]]. On return to Scotland he made major advances in achieving medical training for women.

==Life==
[[File:63 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|63 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh]]
[[File:Christison grave, New Calton Cemetery.JPG|thumb|300px|Christison grave, New Calton Cemetery]]
He was born on 26 August 1828 at 63 Northumberland Street in Edinburgh's New Town<ref>Edinburgh Post office Directory 1828</ref> the son of Henrietta Sophia Brown and [[Robert Christison]], Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the [[University of Edinburgh]]. The house was then a new house, designed by [[Robert Reid (architect)|Robert Reid]] and [[William Sibbald]].<ref>Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker</ref> He was named after his paternal grandfather, Professor [[Alexander Christison]].

He was educated at [[Edinburgh Academy]] then studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He gained his doctorate (MD) in 1850 with a thesis on the medical uses of cannabis. In 1851, he obtained a post as assistant surgeon to the Honourable [[East India Company]] and served with the 4th Sikh Infantry in the [[Second Anglo-Burmese War]] 1852/53 winning a campaign medal and clasp.<ref>British Medical Journal 19 October 1918</ref>

He served with the 1st Cavalry 1855 to 1857 and accompanied Meade's Horse regiment at the Mutinies of [[Gwalior]] and [[Agra]] in 1858, again receiving a campaign medal and clasp. He then gave medical support to the 18th Bengal Infantry. Late in 1858 he was made superintendent of [[vaccination]] and lecturer in surgery at [[Sarojini Naidu Medical College|Agra Medical School]]. He rose to be Principal of the school in 1865 and also took on a role as Principal of Agra Lunatic Asylum. Still connected to the military by 1879 he was Surgeon General for the entire North-West Provinces.<ref>British Medical Journal 19 October 1918</ref>

He retired in 1882, following the death of his father, and his creation as 2nd baronet, and returned to Edinburgh. Here he joined his brother David Christison at 40 Moray Place, his parents' large townhouse on the [[Moray Estate]].<ref>Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1885</ref> In Edinburgh he busied himself in various medical matters. Most notably he strived to reverse his father's anti-female stance in the education of women and more specifically women doctors. He was President of the Scottish Association for the Medical Education of Women. He was also President of the Royal Victoria Hospital from its foundation in 1887. He ran several campaigns to reduce [[tuberculosis]] in Scotland.

He died at home 40 Moray Place in Edinburgh on 14 October 1918 aged 90.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bayanne.info/Shetland/getperson.php?personID=I68119&tree=ID1|title=Sir Alexander CHRISTISON b. 28 Aug 1828 Edinburgh, MLN, SCT d. 14 Oct 1918 40 Moray Place, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT: Shetland Family History}}</ref> He is buried with his family in [[New Calton Cemetery]]. The grave lies on a south-facing terrace, just west of the main north–south path, towards the centre.<ref>{{cite web|author=Charles Sale |url=https://www.gravestonephotos.com/public/namedetails.php?name=549710 |title=GPR |publisher=Gravestonephotos.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-16}}</ref>

==Family==

He was married twice. First to Jemima Anne (Annie) Cowley Brown (possibly a cousin) who died in 1876, then to Florence Elworthy (1851-1949) who was considerably his junior.<ref>Christison Grave, New Calton Cemetery</ref> He had one son and two daughters by his first marriage, and two sons and three daughters by the second marriage.<ref>India in Edinburgh: 1750s to the Present by Roger Jeffrey</ref>

His youngest son, Lieutenant Frederick John Christison (b.1895) was killed on 4 December 1915 in the [[First World War]] while serving with the 10th battalion [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?lastName=Christison&war=1|title = Search Results | CWGC}}</ref>

He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his oldest son Major Robert Alexander Christison of the [[Royal Garrison Artillery]].

His cousin, [[Robert Christison (pastoralist)|Robert Christison]] died of [[tuberculosis]] in 1915.

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Christison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Christison baronets|Baronet]]<br />'''(of Moray Place)''' | years=1882–1918}}
{{s-aft|after=Robert Christison}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christison, Alexander}}
[[Category:1828 births]]
[[Category:1918 deaths]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Edinburgh]]
[[Category:People educated at Edinburgh Academy]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Scottish surgeons]]
[[Category:British East India Company Army officers]]
[[Category:Burials at the New Calton Burial Ground]]
[[Category:Indian Medical Service officers]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Burmese War]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]

Sir Alexander Christison, 2nd Baronet - Revision history

Bot at 13:05, 5 October 2022