Thomas Alexander Wise
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Dr Thomas Alexander Wise MD HEICS FRSE FRCS FRCPE (1802–1889) was a 19th-century Scottish physician, medical author, polymath and collector. He travelled in India, Tibet, China and Japan. He specialised in Tibetan maps and artefacts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/wise-ways-travels-dundee-doctor-0|title=Wise Ways: Travels of A Dundee Doctor|last=Community Information|first=Central Library|website=www.leisureandculturedundee.com|language=English|access-date=2020-03-19}}
He was founder and first Principal of the Hooghly Mohsin College in 1834 and founder of the Hooghly Imambarah Hospital.
Life
File:Abercromby Place 8-20, Edinburgh.JPG
He was born in or near Dundee on 13 June 1802 the second son of Thomas Wise of Hillbank in Forfarshire. His father had been a physician in Jamaica.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/847681/mcmanus-exhibition-follows-in-the-footsteps-of-19th-century-dundee-doctor-thomas-wise/|title=McManus exhibition follows in the footsteps of 19th century Dundee doctor Thomas Wise|last1=Alex|first1=Michael|last2=er|website=The Courier|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-19}}
He studied Medicine at Edinburgh University graduating MD in 1824. He went to India with the Indian Medical Service and worked first in Dum Dum. This brought him closer to his two brothers already in India: Josiah Patrick wise, a merchant, and an older brother serving in the East India Company.{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/List_of_doctors_and_surgeons|title=List of doctors and surgeons - FIBIwiki|website=wiki.fibis.org|access-date=2020-03-19}}
He retired on health grounds in 1851 and returned to Scotland. In 1855 he was living at 17 Abercromby Place in Edinburgh's New Town.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1855 He also had property at Inchyra near Dundee.
In 1854 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposer was John Hughes Bennett.{{cite book|title=Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002|date=July 2006|publisher=The Royal Society of Edinburgh|isbn=978-0-902198-84-5|url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp2.pdf|access-date=5 September 2019|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}}
He later moved to London and died in Norwood in London on 23 July 1889.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk/news/Wise-Ways-Travels-of-A-Dundee-Doctor_0_6387.html|title=Wise Ways: Travels of A Dundee Doctor {{!}} Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce|website=www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk|access-date=2020-03-19}} He is buried in West Norwood Cemetery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152772578/thomas-alexander-wise|title = Thomas Alexander Wise (1802-1889) - Find a Grave}}
Publications
- Commentary of the Hindu System of Medicine (1845 republished 1860)
- Diseases of the Eye (1847)
- Practical Remarks on Insanity in Bengal (1852)
- Essay on the Pathology of the Blood (1858)
- Cholera, its Symptoms, Causes and Remedies (1864)
- the History of Medicine (1867)
Memorials
A number of Wise's collections are held by the McManus Gallery in Dundee.
Thomas Wise Place near Ninewells Hospital in Dundee is named after him.
Family
He married Emily Isabella Disney (1812-1839). She was the niece of Col Prendergast, auditor-general of Madras. She died young and is buried in the Dutch Cemetery in Chinsurah.{{Cite web|url=http://dutchcemeterybengal.com/dutch/node/172|title=Emily Isabella Wise|website=dutchcemeterybengal.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}
He secondly married Harriet Elizabeth Wise (1822-1881) who is buried with him.Inscription on the grave of Thomas Alexander Wise: west Norwood Cemetery
His son James Wise was a surgeon in Dacca.
References
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Category:19th-century Scottish medical doctors