William Carmichael McIntosh
Encyclopedia
William Carmichael McIntosh, FRS (10 October 1838, St Andrews
, Fife
, Scotland
– 1 April 1931, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland) was a Scottish physician
and marine zoologist. His medical qualification (LRCSE) was granted in 1860 by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
, following study at Edinburgh University. McIntosh lived and worked as a psychiatric doctor
in Perthshire
, and was Director of the Perthshire District Asylum at Murthly
for 18 years, but later became a renowned botanist and marine biologist. He travelled on HMS Challenger
during the Challenger expedition
of 1872 to 1876. He was Professor of Natural History at St Andrews University from 1882 to 1917, succeeded by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson. He was also Director of the University Museum and was the first director of the University's Gatty Marine Laboratory
(founded 1896). McIntosh was also a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
, and a Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1877, and was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal
in 1899: "For his important monographs on British marine zoology and on the fishing industries." He was awarded the Linnean Medal
in 1924.
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
– 1 April 1931, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland) was a Scottish physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and marine zoologist. His medical qualification (LRCSE) was granted in 1860 by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
, following study at Edinburgh University. McIntosh lived and worked as a psychiatric doctor
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, and was Director of the Perthshire District Asylum at Murthly
Murthly
Murthly is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is located on the south bank of the River Tay, south-east of Dunkeld, and north of Perth. Perth District Asylum, later known as Murthly Hospital, opened in the village in 1864 and was closed in 1985. A stone circle is lcoated within the...
for 18 years, but later became a renowned botanist and marine biologist. He travelled on HMS Challenger
HMS Challenger (1858)
HMS Challenger was a steam-assisted Royal Navy Pearl-class corvette launched on 13 February 1858 at the Woolwich Dockyard. She was the flagship of the Australia Station between 1866 and 1870....
during the Challenger expedition
Challenger expedition
The Challenger expedition of 1872–76 was a scientific exercise that made many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography. The expedition was named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger....
of 1872 to 1876. He was Professor of Natural History at St Andrews University from 1882 to 1917, succeeded by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson. He was also Director of the University Museum and was the first director of the University's Gatty Marine Laboratory
Gatty Marine Laboratory
The Gatty Marine Laboratory is a marine research institutions that focuses on the Laboratory deals with the behaviour, ecology, physiology, population biology and functional genomics of marine organisms...
(founded 1896). McIntosh was also a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
, and a Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1877, and was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1899: "For his important monographs on British marine zoology and on the fishing industries." He was awarded the Linnean Medal
Linnean Medal
The Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year...
in 1924.
External links
- Entry for McIntosh in the Royal Society's Library and Archive catalogue's details of Fellows (accessed 23 April 2008)
- William Carmichael McIntosh, picture from the Natural History MuseumNatural History MuseumThe Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
- William Carmichael McIntosh, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Archive
- William Carmichael McIntosh (1838-1931), manuscript collection at the University of St Andrews