John Struthers was born in Dunfermline; the second of three brothers, all of whom entered the medical profession. He took up surgery and was appointed to the Royal Infirmary following graduation.
After a few years he abandoned surgery in favour of anatomy and was in time appointed Professor of Anatomy at Aberdeen. He held this post for 26 years, during which time he reorganised the whole teaching of anatomy and created an excellent museum of anatomy.
After retiring from his Chair in Aberdeen he returned to Edinburgh where he devoted his energies to the Royal College of Surgeons. He was President from 1895 to 1897 and was knighted in 1898. In 1899 the Struthers Lecture was inaugurated and was given every third year until 1974.
From the guide to the Struthers, John (1823-1899), 1839-1937, (The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh)
