John Glaister Sr. (1856 - 1932)

Born 9 Mar 1856 in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Scott (Clarke) Glaister — married 8 May 1878 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Died 18 Dec 1932 at age 76 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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Biography

John Glaister Sr. is Notable.

This profile is part of the Glaister Name Study.

"John Glaister Senior (1856-1932) was a brilliant young doctor whose experiences as a Police Surgeon in Glasgow was a prelude to a celebrated career in Forensic Medicine and Public Law. His textbooks on Jurisprudence, Toxicology and Public Health secured his academic reputation, while his dazzling career as a medical detective, appearing as an expert witness in the High Court in dozens of high profile murder cases brought him fame at home and abroad."
- University of Glasgow^[1]

Early Life
John was born on the 9th of March 1856 in Lanark. He was the son of Joseph Glaister and Marion Hamilton Weir.^[2]

John was educated at the Lanark Grammar School. In 1873, at the age of 15, he enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine of Glasgow University and completed the course in only four years. As John was too young to sit the final exams, he took a diploma that allowed him to practice medicine until he was 21. After graduating, he became a police surgeon and a general practitioner in Townhead.^[3][4]

Marriage
He married Mary Scott Clarke on the 8th of May 1878 in Glasgow.^[5]

They would go on to have six children together: Isabella, Marion, Joseph, Mary, Jeannie and John.

Career
"In 1881 he was appointed a lecturer in Medical Jurisprudence at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Medical School, and in 1887 a Special Lecturer in Public Health with his own laboratory in the infirmary. He became Professor of Forensic Medicine and Public Health two years later, when St Mungo's College of Medicine was formed to replace the medical school."^[6]

In 1902, his most famous published work, A Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Toxicology and Public Health was first published and appeared under modified titles in many subsequent editions.^[6][7]

He became famous for his appearances as an expert witness in famous legal cases such as the trial of Oscar Slater for murder in 1909. From 1923, when a new Chair of Public Health was created at the University, he remained Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine.^[6]

"His application of science to material evidence, and his pithy style in court combined to make him a larger than life character to the general public as well as to fellow professionals." ^[1]

Death
John and his wife died of influenza within hours of each other on the 19th of December 1932. They had been ill for only a few days at their home of 3 Newton Place, Glasgow. They had been married for almost 55 years.^[8][9][10]

"GLAISTER.- At 3 Newton Place, Glasgow, on Sunday, 18th December 1932, JOHN GLAISTER, M.D., LL.D., F.R.F.P.S.G., F.R.S.E., F.C.S., D.P.H.(Camb.), Emeritus Professor of Forensic Medicine in the University of Glasgow, husband of Mary Scott Clarke. Also at 3 Newton Place, Glasgow, on Sunday, 18th December 1932, MARY SCOTT CLARKE, widow of the above JOHN GLAISTER. Funeral arrangements later." The Scotsman, 19 December 1932, p16, c7

Research Notes

Please feel free to add any sourced information to this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} University of Glasgow Story - First World War Roll of Honour
2. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F77K-JBC : 12 February 2020), John Glaister, 1856.
3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "John Glaister," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Glaister&oldid=1012436659 (accessed March 20, 2021).
4. ↑ The Story of Lanark - 1856
5. ↑ 8 May 1878, 20 St Vincent Crescent, Glasgow (After Banns - United Presbyterian Church), GLAISTER, JOHN & CLARKE, MARY SCOTT (Statutory registers Marriages 644/10 93) Original record image viewed on Scotlands People
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} University of Glasgow Story - John Glaister
7. ↑ A text-book of medical jurisprudence, toxicology and public health / by John Glaister. "A Text-Book Of Medical Jurisprudence, Toxicology And Public Health / By John Glaister.". 2021. Wellcome Collection.
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 30 November 2020), memorial page for John Glaister (9 Mar 1856–18 Dec 1932), Find A Grave: Memorial #198824646, citing St. Kentigern's Churchyard, Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland ; Maintained by Glenlivet (contributor 49123124) .
9. ↑ The Scotsman, 19 December 1932, p16, c7 via FindMyPast
10. ↑ Dundee Evening Telegraph, 19 December 1932, p4, c3 via FindMyPast

See also:

• The University of Glasgow Story; People: John Glaister
• The University of Glasgow Story; First World War Roll of Honour: Captain (Temporary Commission) John Glaister
• Wikipedia contributors, "John Glaister," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Glaister&oldid=949191459 (accessed December 3, 2020).