Rutherford, William

William Rutherford was born at Ancrum Craig, Roxburghshire, on 20 April 1839. He was educated locally before studying at Edinburgh University. He graduated in 1863 with the degree of M.D. He became a House Physician at the Royal Infirmary in the city and also a House Surgeon, and was also an Assistant Demonstrator at Edinburgh's Surgeon's Hall. He learned from the likes of Daniel Rutherford Haldane (1824-1887), James Spence (1812-1822), and Sir John Struthers (1823-1899). Rutherford then went abroad to expand his knowledge of experimental physiology, studying in Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Leipzig, and Paris. He returned to Edinburgh in 1865. In 1869 he was appointed Professor of Physiology at King's College, London, and in 1871 he became Professor of Physiology at the Royal Institution of London. Rutherford then became Professor of Physiology at Edinburgh University in 1874. His publications include Outlines of practical histology (1875), An experimental research on the physiological actions of drugs on the secretion of bile (1880), and A textbook of physiology (1880). Professor William Rutherford died on 21 February 1899.

From the guide to the Notes and Laboratory records of Professor William Rutherford (1839-1899), and Notes from Lectures given by Rutherford and taken down by others, 1874-1899, (Edinburgh University Library)