Edinburgh, West Princes Street Gardens, Sir James Young Simpson Statue
Statue (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, West Princes Street Gardens, Sir James Young Simpson Statue
Classification Statue (19th Century)
Canmore ID 116838
Site Number NT27SW 615
NGR NT 24845 73697
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/116838
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 615 24845 73697
Architect: William Brodie, 1877.
NMRS Print Room
Inglis Photograph Collection
Acc No 1994/90
4 prints (3 of them postcards)
Project (1997)
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
Field Visit (4 October 2000)
Seated figure of Simpson looking to his left, holding an open book on his right knee. On a pedestal executed by Thomas McEwan to William Brodie's design.
Sir James Young Simpson, born 1811. Became Professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh University. Principally responsible for the introduction of chloroform as an anaesthetic. Died 1870.
Inscriptions : On front (north side) of pedestal:
SIR JAMES YOUNG SIMPSON
BARONET
M.D. D.C.L.
BORN 1811 DIED 1870
PIONEER OF ANAESTHESIA
Signatures : Statue inscribed on east side:
Wm BRODIE. R.S.A. / Sc. / 1875
R. MASEFIELD & Co / Founders. / LONDON.
Design period : 1875
Year of unveiling : 1877
Unveiling details : Unveiled 26 May 1877 by Lady Galloway
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0180)
Photographic Survey (2 October 2008)
William Brodie, 1876. Doctor James Young Simpson was the discoverer of chloroform.
Photographed by the Threatened Buildings Survey as part of the wider recording of structures, monuments and memorials in Princes Street Gardens.
RCAHMS (CAJS) 2012.