Up for auction a RARE! "English Anatomist" William Turner Hand Written 2 Page Letter Dated 1889. 

ES-5424E

Sir

William Turner KCB FRS FRSE (7

January 1832, in Lancaster – 15

February 1916, in Edinburgh) was an English anatomist and was the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from

1903 to 1916. Turner was born in Lancaster the son of

William Turner a relatively rich cabinetmaker, and his wife, Margaret Aldren. He was educated

at various private schools, and then apprenticed to a local physician, Dr

Christopher Johnston.

He afterwards studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's hospital,

and graduated M.B. from the University of London in

1857. In 1854 he became senior demonstrator in anatomy at the University of Edinburgh. He lived in rooms

at Old College.

In 1861 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,

his proposer being John Goodsir. He served as

the Society's Secretary from 1869 to 1891, twice as Vice President from 1891 to

1895 and from 1897 to 1903, and as President from 1908 to 1913. He won the

Society's Neill Prize for 1868 to 1871 and the Keith Prize for 1901-1903. He

came to fame in 1857 with the publication of the nationally acclaimed

"Atlas of Human Anatomy and Physiology", a remarkable work for

someone of only 25. The book has had multiple issues and remains in print in

the 21st century. Turner was appointed Professor of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh in 1867. Only at this point

(despite being married) did he leave his rooms at Old College and move to a

house. This was at 7 Brunswick Street north of Calton Hill. His assistant at this point was Morrison Watson who acted as his Demonstrator. He was

elected a Fellow of the Royal

Society in 1877. His candidature citation read:" Member

of the General Medical Council. – Formerly Examiner in Anatomy in the

University of London, and Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology at the Royal

College of Surgeons of England. Author of a Memoir on the Placentation of the

Lemurs in the Philosophical Transactions 1876; and of papers in the Proceedings

of the Royal Society June 1854 June 1865 and December 1875 – Author of papers

in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1860, 1865, 1870,

1871, 1872, 1873, 1875 and of numerous papers in the Proceedings of the

Society. One of the founders and conductors of the Journal of Anatomy and

Physiology and author of many papers in it. Eminent as an Anatomist and

Physiologist." Turner was best known as a brain surgeon, and published various valuable papers on the

subject. He wrote An Introduction to Human

Anatomy: Including the Anatomy of the Tissues and also developed a set

of eight anatomical charts for use in an anatomy laboratory or classroom of a

medical school. The charts illustrate bones, ligaments, muscles, heart and

arteries, veins and lungs, organs of digestion, nervous system, and organs of

sense and voice.

He was President of the Royal

College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 1882/3. Turner held the

position of president of the General Medical Council from

1898 to 1904, and in 1900 was president of the British Association. He

was elected President of the Anatomical

Society of Great Britain and Ireland from 1890 to 1893. In

later life he lived at 6 Eton Terrace overlooking Dean Bridge. He died at home in Edinburgh 15

February 1916 and is buried nearby, in Dean Cemetery in the north section against the dividing

wall to the original cemetery to the south. His wife and two daughters lie with

him.