Affleck's large townhouse at 38 Heriot Row, Edinburgh
Sir James Ormiston AffleckFRSE (19 July 1840[1] – 24 September 1922)[2] was a Scottish physician and medical author.
Life
The grave of James Ormiston Affleck, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh
Affleck was born in Edinburgh in 1840, but not to a medical family. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1867 with MB ChB. He completed his doctorate in 1869 and began practicing in the Stockbridge area of the city, operating from 12 Claremont Place.[3] He also took on the role of public vaccinator at the New Town Dispensary.[4]
Sir Douglas Maclagan grew aware of his talents and chose Affleck as his assistant in the University and at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. In 1877 Affleck became the official Assistant Physician. He was promoted to official Physician to the infirmary in 1885. He retired from the Infirmary in 1900 and took on the role of Consulting Physician for the City Fever Hospital, and also worked at the Longmore Hospital for Incurables.[5]
In later life he lived at 38 Heriot Row, a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh’s New Town.[7] The University of Edinburgh gave him a further honorary doctorate (LLD) in 1908. He was knighted at Holyrood Palace in 1911 by King George V for his services to medicine.
He died at home on 24 September 1922, and is buried with his wife Agnes in the north-west section of the first north extension of Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh.
