Alexander Keiller (physician)

Alexander Keiller (1811–26 September 1892) was a Scottish physician and was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 1875–77.

Early life

He born in Arbroath in 1811. His early education took place at Dundee before attending medical classes at the University of Edinburgh. In 1833, Keiller became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and two years later obtained his Doctorate in Medicine at St. Andrews as well as becoming a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Keiller then practised medicine in Dundee for the next seven years.^[1]

Edinburgh

He returned to Edinburgh in 1844 and became a most successful and versatile teacher in the Extra-mural School. He and Dr Skae succeeded Dr Knox in the department of anatomy. Keiller then taught gynaecology, materia medica, medical jurisprudence and diseases of women and children.

In 1851 he was appointed a physician to the Royal Infirmary where his skill as a gynaecologist resulted in his ward becoming wholly gynaecological. On retiring from the Royal Infirmary, he was appointed one of the physicians to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr Keiller was a regular contributor to the medical journals and gave many papers to medical societies.

He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1849 and was President from 1875–77.^[1]

He died in North Berwick on 26 September 1892.^[1]

References