William Turner (University Principal)

Sir William Turner (7 January 1832 in Lancaster – 15 February 1916 in Edinburgh) was an English anatomist and was the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1903 to 1916.

Turner was educated at various private schools, and afterwards studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's hospital, and graduated M.B. from the University of London. In 1854 he became senior demonstrator in anatomy at the University of Edinburgh. Turner was appointed Professor of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh in 1867.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1877. His candidature citation read:" Member of the General Medical Council. – Formerly Examiner in Anatomy in the University of London, and Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Author of a Memoir on the Placentation of the Lemurs in the Philosophical Transactions 1876; and of papers in the Proceedings of the Royal Society June 1854 June 1865 and December 1875 – Author of papers in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1860, 1865, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1875 and of numerous papers in the Proceedings of the Society. One of the founders and conductors of the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology and author of many papers in it. Eminent as an Anatomist and Physiologist." Turner was best known as a brain surgeon, and published various valuable papers on the subject. He wrote An Introduction to Human Anatomy: Including the Anatomy of the Tissues and also developed a set of eight anatomical charts for use in an anatomy laboratory or classroom of a medical school. The charts illustrate bones, ligaments, muscles, heart and arteries, veins and lungs, organs of digestion, nervous system, and organs of sense and voice.

Turner held the position of president of the General Medical Council from 1898 to 1904, and in 1900 was president of the British Association. He was elected President of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland from 1890 to 1893. He was knighted in 1886 and made a K.C.B. in 1901. He received an honorary doctorate (LL.D.) from the University of St Andrews in February 1902.

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