Alexander Wood, 1726 - 1807. Surgeon
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Alexander Wood, 1726 - 1807. Surgeon about 1805
  • Scottish Art
Alexander Wood was a highly respected and extremely popular Edinburgh surgeon. The son of a Restalrig farmer, he studied medicine in Edinburgh and for a while practiced in Musselburgh. He subsequently moved back to the capital and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1756. Known for his philanthropy and kindness he was nicknamed by the citizens of Edinburgh, `lang Sandy? for his lanky figure. Wood was a friend of Robert Burns and was held in high esteem by Byron. When one night he was mistakenly seized by a rioting mob, he saved himself by exclaiming: 'I'm lang Sandy Wood; tak' me to a lamp and ye'll see'. One of Wood?s pupils was the pioneer of psychiatric medicine, Sir Alexander Morison.

Details

  • Acc. No. PG 1368
  • Medium Oil on canvas
  • Size 76.20 x 63.50 cm (framed: 81.10 x 68.60 x 6.00 cm)
  • Credit Given by Kenneth Sanderson 1938