Duncanson, James Gray, 1871-1933, medical graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland

James Gray Duncanson was born in 1871, the younger son of Rev Peter Duncanson. He was educated at Hamilton, and the Glasgow Academy, before studying medicine at the University of Glasgow between 1887-1891. In his first session he took classes in Junior Anatomy, Systematic Chemistry and Zoology. Between 1888-1889 he studied Senior Anatomy, Practical Chemistry, Botany, Practical Botany, Surgery, Clinical Surgery and Institutes of Medicine. He then went on to take classes in Senior Anatomy, Practical Physiology, Materia Medica, Practical Pharmacy, Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine. In 1890-1891 he studied Surgery, Operative Surgery, Clinical Surgery, Midwifery, Practice of Medicine, Clinical Medicine and Forensic Medicine. In his final year he took classes in Operative Surgery, Clinical Surgery, and Diseases of Women. He received a commendation for the MB CM in 1891, when he was 20, and graduated in 1892 . He gained a number of awards throughout his time at University: a high commendation in Clinical Surgery, 1888-1889; a second class merit certificate in Therapeutics and Materia Medica, 1889-1890; a second class distinction in Clinical Medicine, 1890-1891; a second class merit certificate in Lectures (partly clinical) on the Diseases of Women, summer session 1891; a high commendation in the Surgery Class, session 1890-1891; a certificate for reporting cases connected with the class, Clinical Surgery Class, session 1891.

He first worked as Surgeon for the City Line Ltd shipping company; then acted as Assistant to Dr Gowans in South Shields, where he was also the Assistant Medical Officer on the HMS Wellesley Tyne training ship for boys and Green's Home. On returning to Glasgow he was appointed Senior Assistant Resident Medical Officer in the Victoria Infirmary in 1893 where he also acted as Medical Superintendent for one month while the Superintendent was on leave. He then paid an extensive visit to the East and in 1894 joined his elder brother, Dr John Cunningham Duncanson, carrying on a large General Practice in the Woolwich, Shooter's Hill and Blackheath district of London. During this period he was also Medical Advisor to the Borough Council, Woolwich.

In 1914 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, whereupon he acted as Officer-in-Charge of the Medical Division in the Auxiliary Hospital, Woolwich and the Royal Herbert Hospital. In France he became Registrar of the No.72 General Hospital, Deauville then rose to the rank of Major and was twice mentioned in dispatches.

From 1920 until his death he held the appointment of Regional Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health. Dr Duncanson had been Secretary and Vice-President of the Therapeutical Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and for some years he was a member of the National Formulary Subcommittee of the Insurance Acts Committee. He was also a medical referee for the Miners' Phthisis Board Union South Africa. He died on 24 June 1933 .

Sources: Glasgow University student records; The Medical Directory ; obituary in The British Medical Journal.

From the guide to the Papers of James Gray Duncanson, 1871-1933, medical graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1887-1894, (Glasgow University Archive Services)