26 Facts About Henry Littlejohn

Sir Henry Duncan Littlejohn MD LLD FRCSE was a Scottish surgeon, forensic scientist and public health official.

Henry Littlejohn served for 46 years as Edinburgh's first Medical Officer of Health, during which time he brought about significant improvements in the living conditions and the health of the city's inhabitants.

Henry Littlejohn served as a police surgeon and medical adviser in Scottish criminal cases.

Henry Littlejohn was born in Edinburgh on 8 May 1826 to Isabella Duncan and Thomas Littlejohn, a master baker of 33 Leith Street.

Henry Littlejohn studied at the Perth Academy before attending the Royal High School, Edinburgh.

Henry Littlejohn went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1847.

Henry Littlejohn became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in the same year.

From 1847 to 1848, Littlejohn worked as a house surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Henry Littlejohn was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1854.

In 1862, Henry Littlejohn was appointed Edinburgh's first Medical Officer of Health.

Henry Littlejohn's report, published in 1865, contained 120 pages of detailed statistics, analysing conditions in over one thousand separate streets, closes and tenements.

In 1900, Henry Littlejohn identified a link between cigarette smoking and cancer, 62 years before the Royal College of Physicians produced a report which acknowledged such a link.

Henry Littlejohn enjoyed a parallel career in forensic science and criminal investigation.

Henry Littlejohn went on to serve as medical adviser to the Crown in Scottish criminal cases, in which role he would continue for over 50 years.

Henry Littlejohn acted as expert witness in many criminal trials.

Henry Littlejohn ordered a full post mortem, which revealed that she had died of narcotic poisoning.

In 1855 Henry Littlejohn was elected a member of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh and served as president in 1881.

Henry Littlejohn was elected president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1875.

Henry Littlejohn received an honorary LLD from the University of Edinburgh in 1893.

Henry Littlejohn retired from public office on 10 March 1908, at the age of 82.

Henry Littlejohn's wife was Isabella Jane, daughter of H Harvey.

Henry Littlejohn's son was Henry Harvey Littlejohn who followed in his father's footsteps as a forensic scientist and medical officer, and who adopted similar techniques of investigation and problem solving.

Henry Littlejohn died at his country house, Benreoch, near Arrochar, Dunbartonshire, on 30 September 1914.

Henry Littlejohn's ashes were interred at the Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.

Henry Littlejohn's grave is on the edge of the southern path towards the west end.

Henry Littlejohn is buried with his wife, and their son and daughter.