Portal:Scotland/Selected article/Week 12, 2010

John Hunter FRS (13 February 1728 – 16 October 1793) was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientific method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour. Hunter was born at Long Calderwood, then near East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland the youngest of ten children. Three of these children had died of illness before John Hunter was born. One of these three had been named John Hunter also. An elder brother was William Hunter, the anatomist. As a youth, John showed little talent, and helped his brother-in-law as a cabinet-maker.

In 1771 he married Anne Home, daughter of Robert Boyne Home and sister of Sir Everard Home. They had four children, two of whom died before the age of 5 and one of whom, Agnes (their fourth child), married General Sir James Campbell. His death in 1793 followed a heart attack during an argument at St George's Hospital over the admission of students.