View source for James Young Simpson

{{Short description|Scottish obstetrician (1811–1870)}}
{{for-multi|his nephew the Australian pastor|James Young Simpson (minister)|his great-nephew the diplomat|James Young Simpson (diplomat)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix  = 
| name              = Sir James Young Simpson
| honorific_suffix  = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|Bt|FRCPE|FSAs}}
| image             = Simpson James Young signature picture.jpg
| alt               = Black and white photograph of Sir James Young Simpson
| caption           = James Simpson
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1811|6|7|df=y}}
| birth_place       = {{nowrap|[[Bathgate]], West Lothian, Scotland}}
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1870|5|6|1811|6|7|df=y}}
| death_place       = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| alma_mater        = [[University of Edinburgh]]
| known_for         = Use of chloroform as anaesthetic in childbirth, design of [[obstetric forceps]]
| footnotes         = [[James Young Simpson (diplomat)|James Young Simpson]] (great nephew)
| spouse            = {{marriage|Janet Grindlay|1839}}
| children          = {{unbulleted list|Margaret Grindlay Simpson|Sir Walter Grindlay Simpson, 2nd Baronet|[[Eve Blantyre Simpson]]|''And 6 others''|}}
}}
'''Sir James Young Simpson, 1st Baronet''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRSE|FRCPE|FSAs}} (7 June 1811 – 6 May 1870) was a Scottish [[obstetrician]] and a significant figure in the [[history of medicine]]. He was the first [[physician]] to demonstrate the [[anesthetic|anaesthetic]] properties of [[chloroform]] in humans and helped to popularize its use in medicine.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Sir James Young Simpson|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/545447/Sir-James-Young-Simpson-1st-Baronet|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-date=27 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727130133/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/545447/Sir-James-Young-Simpson-1st-Baronet|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Foster|first=Joseph|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uFE4AQAAMAAJ|title=The baronetage and knightage|year=1881|page=566|access-date=19 March 2023|archive-date=7 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707044346/https://books.google.com/books?id=uFE4AQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

Simpson's intellectual interests ranged from archaeology to an almost taboo subject at the time: [[hermaphroditism]]. He was an early advocate of the use of [[Midwife|midwives]] in the hospital environment. Many prominent women also consulted him for their gynaecological problems. Simpson wrote ''Homœopathy, its Tenets and Tendencies,'' refuting the ideas put forward by [[Samuel Hahnemann|Hahnemann]].<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=The Leisure Hour: An Illustrated Magazine for Home Reading|author1=William Haig Miller |author2=James Macaulay |author3=William Stevens |publisher=W. Stevens, printer|date=1867|page=9|title=Sir James Young Simpson, Bart|volume=XVI}}</ref>

His services as an early founder of gynaecology and proponent of hospital reform were rewarded with a knighthood, and by 1847 he had been appointed as physician to the Queen in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sir James Young Simpson (1811–1870)|url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-a-z/simpson-james-young|website=National Records of Scotland|date=31 May 2013|access-date=24 March 2021|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105114739/https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-a-z/simpson-james-young|url-status=live}}</ref> Queen Victoria also used anaesthesia for her childbirth, resulting in a significant increase of popularity in anaesthesia. 

Simpson was a close friend of [[Sir David Brewster]], and was present at his deathbed. His contribution to the understanding of the anaesthetic properties of chloroform had a major impact on surgery.

==Education and early career==
James Simpson was born in [[Bathgate]], a younger son of Mary Jervais and David Simpson, a baker. He attended the local school, and in 1825, at the age of 14, entered the [[University of Edinburgh]] to study for an arts degree.<ref name=EB1911>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Simpson, Sir James Young |volume=25 |page=135}}</ref> Two years later he began his medical studies at the university,<ref name=EB1911/> graduating with an [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MBChB]]. He became a licentiate of the [[Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh]] in 1830<ref name=EB1911/> and received his MD in 1832.<ref>{{cite book|title=Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002|date= 2006|publisher=The Royal Society of Edinburgh|isbn=0-902-198-84-X|url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp2.pdf|access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074135/https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp2.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> While at University he took additional classes including those delivered by the surgeon [[Robert Liston]]. As a result of the quality of his MD thesis on inflammation, Professor of Pathology [[John Thomson (physician)|John Thomson]] took him on as his assistant.<ref name=":0">{{Cite ODNB|title=Simpson, Sir James Young, first baronet (1811–1870), physician and obstetrician {{!}} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25584|year=2004|language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/25584|access-date=22 July 2018}}</ref>

As a student he became a member and then Senior President of the [[Royal Medical Society]], initiating a lifelong interest in the Society's advancement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalmedical.co.uk/notable-members/|title=Notable Members – Royal Medical Society|access-date=18 February 2017|archive-date=18 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218175351/http://www.royalmedical.co.uk/notable-members/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first role was as a [[general practitioner]] in the [[Stockbridge, Edinburgh|Stockbridge district]] based at 2 Deanhaugh Street,<ref>Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1838</ref> and at the age of 28, he succeeded [[James Hamilton (Scottish physician)|James Hamilton]] as Professor of Medicine and Midwifery at the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite journal | last=Doyle | first=D | title=James Hamilton, the younger (1767–1839) | journal=Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh | volume=42 | issue=2 | date=2012 | doi=10.4997/JRCPE.2012.222 | page=188| pmid=22872923 | url=https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/notablefellows_1.pdf | access-date=1 September 2016 | archive-date=30 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430132637/https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/notablefellows_1.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=McCrae|first=Morrice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T9S8BQAAQBAJ&q=Simpson:+The+Turbulent+Life+of+a+Medical+Pioneer|title=Simpson: The Turbulent Life of a Medical Pioneer|publisher=John Donald, Edinburgh|year=2010|isbn=9780857900623|access-date=19 March 2023|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406014536/https://books.google.com/books?id=T9S8BQAAQBAJ&q=Simpson:+The+Turbulent+Life+of+a+Medical+Pioneer|url-status=live}}</ref>

Simpson's most significant contribution to medicine was the introduction of [[anaesthesia]] to childbirth;<ref name=":2" /> however, he also improved the design of obstetric [[forceps]] that to this day are known in obstetric circles as "Simpson's Forceps", as well as designing the Air Tractor in 1838. The Air Tractor was the earliest known vacuum extractor to assist childbirth; however, the method did not become popular until the invention of the [[ventouse]] over a century later.<ref>{{cite web|last=Venema|first=Vibeke|date=3 December 2013|title=Odon childbirth device: Car mechanic uncorks a revolution|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25137800|access-date=4 December 2013|publisher=BBC World Service|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203080447/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25137800|url-status=live}}</ref>

With regards to religion Simpson was a devout adherent of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], but he refused to sign the [[Westminster Confession of Faith]], because of what he believed to be its literal interpretation of the [[book of Genesis]].<ref name=":0" />

Simpson's principal residence was Strathavon Lodge,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Testament of Sir James Young Simpson|url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//research/famous-scots/simpson-sir-james-young-will-transcript.pdf|website=National Records of Scotland|pages=958–1013}}</ref> but he also kept a town house at 52 Queen Street, Edinburgh, and a country house near Bathgate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Historic Environment Portal|url=http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB30131|website=Historic Environment Scotland|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-date=24 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324220645/http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB30131|url-status=live}}</ref> The family seat was Strathavon, Linlithgow.<ref name=":1" />

==Obstetric anaesthesia==
[[File:Norman Macbeth - Sir James Young Simpson. Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Norman Macbeth]] - Sir James Young Simpson. [[Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]] collection]]
[[Humphry Davy|Sir Humphry Davy]] used the first anaesthetic in 1799: [[nitrous oxide]] (laughing gas). [[William T. G. Morton]]'s demonstration of [[diethyl ether|ether]] as an anaesthetic in 1846 was initially dismissed because it irritated the lungs of the patients. Chloroform had been synthesised in 1831, but its uses had not been greatly investigated. [[Robert Mortimer Glover|Dr Robert Mortimer Glover]] had first described the anaesthetic properties of chloroform upon animals in 1842 in a thesis which won the Harveian Society's Gold Medal that year, but had not thought to use it on humans (fearing its safety).<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Defalque|first1=R. J.|last2=Wright|first2=A. J.|date=2004|title=The short, tragic life of Robert M. Glover|journal=Anaesthesia|volume=59|issue=4|pages=394–400|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.03671.x|pmid=15023112 |issn=|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>Blessed Days of Anaesthesia by Stephanie Snow 2009</ref>

In 1847, Simpson first demonstrated the properties of [[chloroform]] upon humans, during an experiment with friends in which he confirmed that it could be used to put one to sleep. Dr Simpson and two of his assistants, Dr [[George Skene Keith (physician)|George Skene Keith]] (1819–1910) and [[James Matthews Duncan]] (1826–1890), used to sit every evening in Dr Simpson's dining room to try new chemicals to see if they had any anaesthetic effect. Following a visit to [[Linlithgow]], where Simpson was recommended to trial a sample of chloroform from a local pharmacist, David Waldie, Simpson then returned to Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hendrie |first=William |date=1986 |title=Discovering West Lothian |location=Edinburgh |publisher=John Donald Publishers |page=49 |isbn=978-0859761628}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/b560221a-569f-34aa-a50a-56da0d005714 |title=Papers of David Waldie, 1813–1889 |publisher=Jisc |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707044404/https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/b560221a-569f-34aa-a50a-56da0d005714 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/credit-due-over-chloroform-find-2466081|title=Credit due over chloroform find|date=18 January 2002|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=12 July 2021|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712205025/https://www.scotsman.com/news/credit-due-over-chloroform-find-2466081|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 November 1847, Simpson and his friends decided to try chloroform themselves, which Simpson had obtained from local pharmacist [[William Flockhart]] of Duncan and Flockhart of [[North Bridge, Edinburgh|North Bridge]], Edinburgh.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Worling|first=P. M.|date=1988|title=Duncan and Flockhart: the Story of Two Men and a Pharmacy|journal=Pharmaceutical Historian|volume=28 |issue=2|pages=28–33|pmid=11620310 }}</ref> On inhaling the chemical they found that a general mood of cheer and humour had set in, but suddenly all of them collapsed only to regain [[consciousness]] the next morning. Simpson knew, as soon as he woke up, that he had found something that could be used as an anaesthetic. They soon had Miss Agnes Petrie, Simpson's niece, try it. She fell asleep soon after inhaling it while singing the words, "I am an angel!".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gordon|first=H. Laing|title=Sir James Young Simpson and Chloroform (1811–1870)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pYer05UwKBYC|access-date=11 November 2011|date=2002|publisher=The Minerva Group, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4102-0291-8|page=108|archive-date=7 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707044349/https://books.google.com/books?id=pYer05UwKBYC|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a prevalent myth that the mother of the first child delivered under chloroform christened her child "Anaesthesia"; the story is retailed in Simpson's biography as written by his daughter Eve. However, the son of the first baby delivered by chloroform explained that Simpson's parturient had been one Jane Carstairs, and her child was baptised Wilhelmina. "Anaesthesia" was a nickname Simpson had given the baby.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Defalque|first1= Ray J.|last2= Wright|first2= Amos J. J.|title= The Myth of Baby "Anaesthesia |journal= Anesthesiology|date= September 2009 | volume =111 |issue =3 |page= 682| doi=10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181b2800f |pmid= 19704255|doi-access= free}}</ref>

[[File:Bust of Sir James Y. Simpson at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Scotland.JPG|thumb|Bust of Sir James Y. Simpson at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Scotland|200x200px]]

It was much by chance that Simpson survived the chloroform dosage he administered to himself. If he had inhaled too much and died, chloroform would have been seen as a dangerous substance, which in fact it is.<ref>{{cite book|author=T. K. Agasti|title=Textbook of Anaesthesia for Postgraduates|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2YOpCMNFD4C&pg=PA397|access-date=15 September 2013|date=2010|publisher=JP Medical Ltd|isbn=978-93-80704-94-4|page=397–}}</ref> Conversely, if Simpson had inhaled slightly less it would not have put him to sleep. It was his willingness to explore the possibilities of the substance that set him on the road to a career as a pioneer in the field of medicine. Subsequently, organising supplies to [[Florence Nightingale]] and [[Queen Victoria]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Duncan, Flockhart and Co – Graces Guide|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Duncan,_Flockhart_and_Co|access-date=2021-06-16|website=www.gracesguide.co.uk|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015224836/https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Duncan,_Flockhart_and_Co|url-status=live}}</ref> led to its use in obstetrics and for the military, and according to the ''[[The BMJ|British Medical Journal]]'' changed the face of medicine for a century.<ref>{{Citation|title=James Young Simpson: A new world is born| date=27 May 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVpHgqX8uI4|language=en|access-date=2021-06-16|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606212901/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVpHgqX8uI4|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Jamesyoungsimpsonplaque.jpg|thumb|Signage posted inside St. Gile’s Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, honoring the groundbreaking work of James Young Simpson.]]
An account of some of Simpson's early uses of ether in childbirth are related by Manchester-based doctor Edmund Lund who visited him in 1847 and can be found in a manuscript held by special collections at the University of Manchester with the reference MMM/12/2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/|title=Search – Archives Hub|website=archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk|access-date=6 June 2021|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235048/http://archives.li.man.ac.uk/ead/html/gb133bdd-p1.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Antiquarian research==
Simpson joined the [[Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]] in 1849, and became its vice-president in 1860.<ref>{{cite journal|first = Joseph|last=Anderson|title=Sir James Young Simpson's Work in Archaeology|journal=Edinburgh Medical Journal|volume=6|issue=6|pages=516–22|date=1911|pmc=5253907}}</ref> He made contributions to both the history of medicine and to archaeology.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Phoebe|last=Peck|title=Doctors afield. Sir James Y. Simpson|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=265|issue=10|pages=486–87|date=1961|doi=10.1056/NEJM196109072651009|pmid=13733828|s2cid=59614600|url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/39e0513f0d4f774db19e2acca58963350df989a9|access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=7 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707044350/https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Sir-James-Y.-Simpson/39e0513f0d4f774db19e2acca58963350df989a9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first = J. L.| last = Turk|title=Sir James Simpson: leprosy and syphilis|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine|volume=87|issue=9|pages=549–51| pmid = 7932466| pmc = 1294776| year = 1994| doi = 10.1177/014107689408700921}}</ref> He published several papers on [[leprosy]] and [[syphilis]]. In both cases he was concerned with the symptoms of the diseases and the relation between historical reports and contemporary cases, and also with the institutions that were set up to care for and segregate the patients.<ref>{{cite journal|first = J. Y.|last=Simpson|title=Antiquarian Notices of Leprosy and Leper Hospitals in Scotland and England|url = https://archive.org/details/b21469945|journal=Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal|date=1841}} [https://archive.org/details/b21469933/page/n1 Part 1]; [https://archive.org/details/b21469945/page/n2 Part 2]; [https://archive.org/details/b21469957/page/n1 Part 3]</ref><ref>{{cite book|first = James Young|last=Simpson|title=Antiquarian notices of syphilis in Scotland in the 15th & 16th centuries|date=1862|place=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston & Douglas|url=https://archive.org/details/antiquariannotic00simp}}</ref> Another area he worked on was medicine in Roman Britain.<ref>{{cite book|first=James Y.|last=Simpson|title=Archaeological Essays by the late Sir James Y. Simpson, Volume 2|editor-first=John|editor-last=Stuart|chapter=Was the Roman Army provided with medical officers?|year=1872 |pages=196–227|place=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston and Douglas| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/archaeologicales02simpuoft/page/n211}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=James Y.|last=Simpson|title=Archaeological Essays by the late Sir James Y. Simpson, Volume 2|editor-first=John|editor-last=Stuart|chapter=Notices of ancient roman medicine-stamps, etc., found in Great Britain|year=1872 |pages=228–99|place=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston and Douglas| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/archaeologicales02simpuoft/page/n245}}</ref>

Simpson published an early and important work on prehistoric rock art ''Archaic Sculpturings of Cups, Circles, &c. Upon Stones and Rocks in Scotland, England, & Other Countries''.<ref>{{cite book|first=James Young|last=Simpson|title=Archaic Sculpturings of Cups, Circles, &c. Upon Stones and Rocks in Scotland, England, & Other Countries|date=1867|place=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston and Douglas| url=https://archive.org/details/SimpsonArchaicSculpturingsOfCupsCirclesCU}}</ref> Simpson listed and categorized examples of sculpturings from many parts of the British Isles, often from personal examination, and also included examples from other countries for comparison. Many illustrations are provided. After Simpson's death, a collection of his antiquarian essays was published in two volumes.<ref>{{cite book|first=James Y.|last=Simpson|title=Archaeological Essays by the late Sir James Y. Simpson, Volume 2|editor-first=John|editor-last=Stuart|place=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston and Douglas}} [https://archive.org/details/archaeologicales01simpuoft Volume 1]; [https://archive.org/details/archaeologicales02simpuoft Volume 2]</ref>

His great-grand-niece, [[Margaret E. B. Simpson]], would later become the first women professional archaeologist in Scotland. It is speculated that his interest in Antiquarian research may have influenced her in regards to her career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CA |date=2019-04-09 |title=Profile: Marguerite Wood and Margaret Simpson |url=https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/marguerite-wood-and-margaret-simpson.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Current Archaeology |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Marriage and Grindlay family ==
The Simpson and Grindlay families of Edinburgh were closely interrelated, forming a single extended family.<ref name=":2" />

In 1839, Simpson married Janet Grindlay (later Lady Janet Grindlay Simpson), daughter of the Edinburgh and Liverpool shipping grandee Walter Grindlay, a member of the Scottish branch of the landed gentry [[Grindlay family]]. Simpson and Walter were cousins, sharing grandparents in Alexander Simpson and his wife Isabella Grindlay, and Walter's daughter Janet or 'Jessie', was Simpson's first cousin once removed. Simpson's son, Walter Grindlay Simpson, 2nd Baronet was Walter Grindlay's nephew and godson.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.histansoc.org.uk/uploads/9/5/5/2/9552670/proceedings_volume_44.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204102615/http://www.histansoc.org.uk/uploads/9/5/5/2/9552670/proceedings_volume_44.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2021|title=The History of Anaesthesia Society Proceedings: Volume 44}}</ref>

Simpson relied on Walter Grindlay and his estate for financial support a number of times during his career.<ref name=":2" />

== Death and memorials ==
[[File:James Young Simpson statue.jpg|thumb|Sir James Young Simpson statue, West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh|267x267px]]In 1840 Simpson was elected a member of the [[Harveian Society of Edinburgh]] and served as president in 1848.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ww4e59xv|title=A Record of the Edinburgh Harveian Society|last=Watson Wemyss|first=Herbert Lindesay|publisher=T&A Constable, Edinburgh|year=1933|language=en|access-date=22 October 2023|archive-date=14 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014083624/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ww4e59xv|url-status=live}}</ref> He was elected President of the [[Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]] in 1850<ref>{{cite book|title=Benjamin Disraeli Letters: 1868, Vol. X|first= Michel|last = Pharand|page= 97}}</ref> and an international member of the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 1863.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Y. Simpson |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=simpson%2C+james+y&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |website=American Philosophical Society Member History Database |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324220645/https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=simpson%2C+james+y&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1850 he was also elected a member of the [[Aesculapian Club]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Minute Books of the Aesculapian Club|url=http://archives.rcpe.ac.uk/calmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DEP%2fAEC%2f1&pos=2|location=Library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh|access-date=24 January 2023|archive-date=10 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210104943/http://archives.rcpe.ac.uk/calmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DEP%2fAEC%2f1&pos=2|url-status=live}}</ref> He was created a Baronet of Strathavon in the County of Linlithgow, and of the City of Edinburgh, in 1866.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=23064 |date=30 January 1866 |page=511 }}</ref> He died at his home in Edinburgh in May 1870 at the age of 58. A burial spot in Westminster Abbey was offered to his family, but they declined and instead buried him closer to home in [[Warriston Cemetery]], Edinburgh.<ref>For a photograph of his gravesite, see {{cite journal |title=Edinburgh connections in a painful world |author=Baskett, T. F. |journal=The Surgeon |year=2005 |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=99–107 |doi=10.1016/s1479-666x(05)80070-8 |pmid=15861945 |url=http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/journal/svol3_2/3020008.html |access-date=29 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620022300/http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/journal/svol3_2/3020008.html |archive-date=20 June 2008 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> However, a memorial bust of Simpson can be found in a niche at [[Westminster Abbey]] in London.<ref>'The Abbey Scientists' Hall, A. R., p. 17: London; Roger & Robert Nicholson; 1966.</ref> On the day of Simpson's funeral, a Scottish holiday was declared, including the banks and stock markets, with over 100,000 citizens lining the funeral cortege on its way to the cemetery,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-06|title=Sir James Young Simpson died – On this day in history|url=https://www.historyscotland.com/history/sir-james-young-simpson-died-on-this-day-in-history/|access-date=2021-06-06|website=History Scotland|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606212905/https://www.historyscotland.com/history/sir-james-young-simpson-died-on-this-day-in-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> while over 1,700 colleagues and business leaders took part in the procession itself. A year later, chloroform supplier, [[William Flockhart]] was buried nearby.<ref name=":3" />

[[Alexander Russell Simpson|Dr Alexander Russell Simpson]], his nephew, inherited his town house at 52 [[Queen Street, Edinburgh|Queen Street]]<ref>Edinburgh Post Office Directories</ref> and lived there until his death in 1916, when it was then bequeathed to the Church of Scotland. Since then the building has been through many uses including being requisitioned by the army during the Second World War and being used as a centre for training Sunday School teachers in the 1950s. Today, the town house is the premises of a charity called Simpson House, which provides a counselling service for adults and children affected by alcohol and drug use.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.simpson-house.org/ourhistory.htm|title=Our history – Simpson House CrossReach|website=www.simpson-house.org|date=11 December 2022|access-date=6 June 2021|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606212124/https://www.simpson-house.org/ourhistory.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a plaque on the wall outside to mark the house as having been the home of James Young Simpson from 1845 to 1870.

In 1879 the [[Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion|Edinburgh Royal Maternity and Simpson Memorial Hospital]] and in 1939 the [[Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion|Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion]] were named in his honour, as is the current Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The Quartermile development, which consists of the Old Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, named its main residential street Simpson Loan in his honour.

== Coat of arms ==
The coat of arms of the Simpson Baronets, award to James Young Simpson on 3 February 1866, are influenced by his work in medicine and anaesthesia.
{{Emblem table
| name = Simpson of Strathavon and Edinburgh
| image = File:Simpson (Grindlay Simpson) Arms.svg|centre|120px
| imagesize = 
| notes = 
| year_adopted = 
| coronet = 
| crest = A staff erect encircled by a serpent or.
| torse = 
| helm = 
| escutcheon = Or, on a chief vert a goshawk between two crescents argent.
| supporters = 
| compartment = 
| motto = "Victo Dolore" ''(pain conquered or victory over pain)''
| orders = 
| other_elements = 
| bannerimage = 
| banner = 
| badgeimage = 
| badge = 
| symbolism = 
| previous_versions = 
|seat=Strathavon}}

== In popular culture ==
[[Ambrose Parry]]'s historical novels of the ''Raven, Fisher, and Simpson'' series (2018–) feature Simpson as a key protagonist.

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="216" heights="150">
File:Sir James Young Simpson. Lithograph by J. Archer, 1848. Wellcome L0008067.jpg|Sir James by [[James Archer (artist)|James Archer]] (c.1848)
File:James Young Simpson 2.jpg|Sir James Young Simpson
File:Members of the medical faculty at Edinburgh University, gath Wellcome M0010552.jpg|Sir James alongside Professor [[Robert Jameson]], Dr [[William Alison]], Dr [[Thomas Stewart Traill|Thomas Traill]], Professor [[James Miller (surgeon)|James Miller]], Sir [[Isaac Bayley Balfour|Isaac Balfour]], Dr [[John Hughes Bennett|John Bennett]], of the [[University of Edinburgh]].
File:Portrait of Sir James Simpson - DPLA - 2534ba789df28f24ffaeac62f3c4382c (page 1).jpg|Sir James Y Simpson
File:Sir James Young Simpson & Wainhouse (or Muirhouse) MET DP142388.jpg|Sir James Young Simpson and Wainhouse (or Muirhouse)
File:Portrait Sir James Young Simpson after Moffat Wellcome L0017840.jpg|Sir James Y Simpson, Bart, M.D.
File:Janet Grindlay, Lady Simpson.jpg|Lady Janet 'Jessie' Grindlay Simpson, a spectator of the first trial of chloroform by [[James Archer (artist)|James Archer]] (c. 1846)
File:52 Queen Street, Edinburgh.jpg|52 Queen Street, Edinburgh. The townhouse of Sir James Young Simpson
File:Sir James Young Simpson (11821599226).jpg|Plate outside the former home of Sir James in Edinburgh
File:Dr.James Young Simpson memorial plaque, St. Giles.jpg|Memorial plaque in St. Giles, Edinburgh
File:Sir James Young Simpson plaque, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh (26782564058).jpg|Sir James Young Simpson plague at the [[University of Edinburgh Medical School]].
File:Simpson Memorial Hospital, Lauriston Place - geograph.org.uk - 1419528.jpg|The [[Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion|Simpson Memorial Maternity Hospital]] built to commemorate Sir James in 1879.
File:Simpson Archaic Sculpturings of Cups Circles c U 0221 Fig10.png|An illustration from Simpson's book on archaic sculpturing
File:James Young Simpson grave.jpg|Grindlay-Simpson family grave (marked by tall obelisk), Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Charles Thomas Jackson]], claimed to have pioneered the use of [[diethyl ether]]
* [[Crawford Williamson Long]], discovered the anaesthetic effect of [[diethyl ether]]
* [[William Thomas Green Morton]], pioneered the use of [[diethyl ether]] in surgery
<!--* [[Douglas Maclagan]]-->
* [[Humphry Davy]], first suggested the use of [[nitrous oxide]] in 1799
* [[Horace Wells]], in 1844 pioneered the use of [[nitrous oxide]] in the US

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite journal |last=Baillie|first= T. W. |title=Hans Christian Andersen's visit to James Young Simpson |journal=Scottish Medical Journal |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=112–13 |date=August 2004 |pmid=15462230|doi=10.1177/003693300404900314 |s2cid=29911532 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Ball|first=C. |title=James Young Simpson, 1811–1870 |journal=Anaesthesia and Intensive Care |volume=24 |issue=6 |page=639 |date=December 1996 |pmid=8971309|doi=10.1177/0310057X9602400601 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last=Chalmers|first=J. A. |title=James Young SimpsonS and the 'suction-tractor' |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire |volume=70 |pages=94–100 |date=February 1963 |pmid=14019913 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-0528.1963.tb04184.x|s2cid=40092210 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Cohen|first= J. |title=Doctor James Young Simpson, Rabbi Abraham De Sola, and Genesis Chapter 3, verse 16 |journal=Obstetrics and Gynecology |volume=88 |issue=5 |pages=895–98 |date=November 1996 |pmid=8885936 |doi=10.1016/0029-7844(96)00234-7|s2cid=72317373 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Dunn|first= P. M. |title=Sir James Young Simpson (1811–1870) and obstetric anaesthesia |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition |volume=86 |issue=3 |pages=F207–09 |date=May 2002 |pmid=11978757 |pmc=1721404 |doi=10.1136/fn.86.3.F207}}
*{{cite journal |last=Eustace|first= D. L. |title=James Young Simpson: the controversy surrounding the presentation of his Air Tractor (1848–1849) |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine |volume=86 |issue=11 |pages=660–63 |date=November 1993 |doi=10.1177/014107689308601116 |pmid=8258804 |pmc=1294227}}
*{{cite journal |last=Gaskell|first=E. |title=Three letters by Sir James Young Simpson |journal=British Medical Journal |volume=2 |issue=5706 |pages=414–16 |date=May 1970 |pmid=4911888 |pmc=1700310 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.5706.414}}
*{{cite book|last=Gordon |first=Henry Laing|title=Sir James Young Simpson and Chloroform (1811-1870)|url=https://archive.org/details/b21506292|publisher=[[T. Fisher Unwin]]|location=London |year=1879|oclc=11397269}} ([https://www.gutenberg.org/files/34128/34128-h/34128-h.htm Project Gutenberg EBook])
*{{cite book|last=Gordon |first=Henry Laing|author-mask=1|title=Sir James Young Simpson and Chloroform (1811-1870)|publisher=University Press of the Pacific|date=30 November 2002|orig-date=1879|isbn=978-1410202918|pages=248}}
*{{cite journal |last=Gunn|first= A. L. |title=James Young Simpson—the complete gynaecologist |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth |volume=75 |issue=3 |pages=249–63 |date=March 1968 |pmid=4868187 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-0528.1968.tb02074.x|s2cid=28501852 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Hill|first=B. |title=Towards the conquest of pain: Sir James Y. Simpson, Bt, M.D. (1811–1870) |journal=The Practitioner |volume=204 |issue=223 |pages=724–29 |date=May 1970 |pmid=4914462}}
*{{cite journal |last=Kellar|first= R. J. |title=Sir James Young Simpson: victo dolore |journal=Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |date=October 1966 |pmid=5341756}}
*{{cite journal |last=Kennedy|first= C. |title=Sir James Young Simpson – "the splendid ultimate triumph" |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth |volume=73 |issue=3 |pages=364–71 |date=June 1966 |pmid=5329917 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-0528.1966.tb05176.x|s2cid=35579820 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Kennedy|first=C.|
author-mask=1 |title=Sir James Young Simpson – "the splendid ultimate triumph" |journal=Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=14–23 |date=October 1966 |pmid=5341755}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kyle |first1=R. A.|last2= Shampo |first2=M. A. |title=James Young Simpson and the introduction of chloroform anesthesia in obstetric practice |journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings |volume=72 |issue=4 |page=372 |date=April 1997 |pmid=9121187 |doi=10.4065/72.4.372}}
*{{cite journal |last=Matsuki|first= A. |trans-title=Recent findings in the history of anesthesiology (15) – James Young Simpson |language=ja |journal=Masui |volume=30 |issue=10 |pages=1142–46 |date=October 1981 |pmid=7035712 |title=Recent findings in the history of anesthesiology (15) – James Young Simpson}}
*{{cite journal |last=McGowan|first= S. W. |title=Sir James Young Simpson Bart. 150 years on |journal=Scottish Medical Journal |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=185–87 |date=December 1997|pmid=9507600|doi=10.1177/003693309704200609 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Miller|first=D. |title=Sir James Young SIMPSON |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire |volume=69 |pages=142–50 |date=February 1962 |pmid=14035991 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-0528.1962.tb00025.x|s2cid=70704053 }}
*{{cite journal |doi=10.1056/NEJM196109072651009 |last=Peck |first=P. |title=Doctors afield: Sir James Y. SIMPSON |journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |volume=265 |issue= 10|pages=486–87 |date=September 1961 |pmid=13733828|s2cid=59614600 |url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/39e0513f0d4f774db19e2acca58963350df989a9 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Pinkerton|first= J. H. |title=Sir James Young Simpson: Irish influences |journal=Irish Medical Journal |volume=75 |issue=6 |pages=183–87 |date=June 1982 |pmid=7050008}}
* [[Eve Blantyre Simpson|Simpson, Eve Blantyre]], (1896), ''Sir James Y. Simpson,'' Edinburgh: [[Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier]], ([[List of books for the "Famous Scots Series"|"Famous Scots Series"]]).
*{{cite book |last=Simpson|first=Myrtle |title=Simpson, the obstetrician: a biography |publisher=Gollancz |location=London |year=1972 |isbn=978-0-575-01368-1 |oclc=489148}}
*{{cite book |last=Speert |first=Harold |title=Obstetric and Gynecologic Milestones |publisher=Macmillan |location=New York |year=1958 |oclc=222038266}}
*{{cite journal |last=Conacher|first=I. D. |title=Why the Y? |journal=British Journal of Anaesthesia |volume=80 |issue=2 |pages=271–72 |date=February 1998 |pmid=9602606 |doi=10.1093/bja/80.2.271-a|doi-access=free }}
*{{cite journal |last=Secher|first= O. |title=Hans Andersen and James Young Simpson |journal=British Journal of Anaesthesia |volume=44 |issue=11 |pages=1212–16 |date=November 1972 |pmid=4567093 |doi=10.1093/bja/44.11.1212|doi-access=free }}
*{{cite journal |last=Speert|first=H. |title=Obstetrical-gynecological eponyms: James Young Simpson and his obstetric forceps |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire |volume=64 |issue=5 |pages=744–49 |date=October 1957 |pmid=13476274 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-0528.1957.tb08472.x|s2cid=20945871 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Taylor|first= C. W. |title=Lawson Tait – A Grateful Pupil of James Young Simpson |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth |volume=72 |issue= 2|pages=165–71 |date=April 1965 |pmid=14273091 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-0528.1965.tb01411.x|s2cid=27571571 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Waserman|first= M. |title=Sir James Y Simpson and London's "conservative and so curiously prejudiced" Dr Ramsbotham |journal=British Medical Journal |volume=280 |issue=6208 |pages=158–61 |date=January 1980 |pmid=6986947 |pmc=1600358 |doi=10.1136/bmj.280.6208.158}}
*{{cite journal |title=Classic articles in colonic and rectal surgery. James Young Simpson 1811–1870 |journal=Diseases of the Colon and Rectum |volume=25 |issue=6 |pages=611–22 |date=September 1982 |pmid=6749456 |doi=10.1007/bf02564182|s2cid=5576393 }}
*{{cite journal |title=James Young Simpson and the conquest of pain |journal=The Medical Journal of Australia |volume=1 |issue=19 |pages=925–26 |date=May 1970 |pmid=4912314|doi=10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb116701.x |s2cid=38107233 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst60.html Overview of Sir James Young Simpson]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924154304/http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/site/761/default.aspx Papers of Sir James Young Simpson (1811–1870)]
* [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/simpson_james.htm Significant Scots entry]
* [http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/2532.html Who Named It? Entry (well laid out)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916134823/http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/2532.html |date=16 September 2019 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924154304/http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/site/761/default.aspx Papers of Sir James Young Simpson] The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/545447/Sir-James-Young-Simpson-1st-Baronet ''Britannica'' online entry for Sir James ]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120209225334/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sir-james-young-simpson-pioneer-gynecology.html Entry featuring his gynecological contributions]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110608014524/http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/sitecontent/news/archive/1990040/1990060/simpsonmemorial West Lothian council memorial to Sir James]
* {{Gutenberg author | id=32646| name=James Young Simpson}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=James Young Simpson |sopt=t}}
*[[The BMJ|British Medical Journal]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVpHgqX8uI4 video] about the legacy of James Young Simpson (via ''[https://www.historyscotland.com/history/sir-james-young-simpson-died-on-this-day-in-history/ History Scotland)]'' 
{{s-start}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Simpson Baronets|Baronet]]'''<br />(of Strathavon and the City of Edinburgh)'''|years=1866–1870 }}
{{s-aft|after=Walter Grindlay Simpson}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James Hamilton (physician, born 1767)|James Hamilton]]}}
{{s-ttl||title=[[Professor of Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Edinburgh|Professor of Midwifery, Edinburgh]]|years=1840-1870}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alexander Russell Simpson]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, James Young}}
[[Category:1811 births]]
[[Category:1870 deaths]]
[[Category:Scottish Presbyterians]]
[[Category:People from Bathgate]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:19th-century Scottish medical doctors]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Scottish knights]]
[[Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:People associated with Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Scottish anaesthetists]]
[[Category:Scottish inventors]]
[[Category:Burials at Warriston Cemetery]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]]
[[Category:Office bearers of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Members of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:International members of the American Philosophical Society]]