Robert Liston

Robert Liston (28 October 1794 – 7 December 1847) was a Scottish surgeon. Liston was noted for his speed and skill in an era prior to anaesthetics, when speed made a difference in terms of pain and survival. He was the first Professor of Clinical Surgery at University College Hospital in London and performed the first public operation utilising modern anaesthesia in Europe.

Early life and education

He was born in the manse of Ecclesmachan, the son of Margaret Ireland from Culross and her husband Rev Henry Liston a clergyman and an inventor, from Ecclesmachan in West Lothian west of Edinburgh. His grandfather – also Robert Liston – was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

After a local education both from his father and in Abercorn village school, Liston started studying at Edinburgh Medical School from 1808. In 1810 he became assistant to his tutor Dr. John Barclay. In 1816, he went to London for a year to train under William Blizard. He returned to Edinburgh to teach anatomy alongside James Syme. He was then living at 95 Princes Street – a fine house facing Edinburgh Castle. In 1820, he married the daughter of Adam Crawford, a Leith wine merchant.

Career

In 1818, he had become house surgeon in The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh under Dr George Bell. However, he was dismissed in 1822 due to disagreements with Bell and not reinstated until 1827. In 1828, he was promoted to operating surgeon.

He became first "The Northern Anatomist" of Blackwood’s Magazine. In 1832/1833, he is listed as living at 99 George Street in the centre of Edinburgh's New Town. In 1833, he applied for Edinburgh's Professorship of Anatomy but was beaten by James Syme (five years his junior) who had a much better aptitude for teaching. Liston then left Edinburgh and relocated to London.