12 Facts About James Syme

James Syme's father was John Syme WS of Cartmore and Lochore, estates in Fife and Kinross.

James Syme's father lost most of his fortune in attempting to develop the mineral resources of his property.

James Syme's father had a legal practice at 23 North Hanover Street, not far from Princes Street in Edinburgh.

James Syme worked there from May 1829 to September 1833, with great success as a surgical charity and school of clinical instruction.

When Liston removed to London in 1835 James Syme became the leading consulting surgeon in Scotland.

In 1847, James Syme was accepted the chair of clinical surgery at University College, London left vacant after Liston's death.

James Syme began practice in London in February 1848; but early in May the same year difficulties with two of his colleagues at Gower Street and a desire to escape from animosity and contention led him to give up his appointment.

James Syme was elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1849.

James Syme was a Christian whose religious feeling increased as he grew older.

James Syme is buried on the upper north-east terrace of St John's Episcopal Churchyard at the east end of Princes Street, Edinburgh.

James Syme's character is not inaptly summed up in the dedication to him by his old pupil, John Brown, of the series of essays Locke and Sydenham: Verax, capax, perspicax, sagax, efficax, tenax.

James Syme died in 1840, while giving birth to their ninth child.