Morison , Sir , Alexander , 1779-1866 , psychiatrist

Sir Alexander Morison was born on 1 May 1779 at Anchorfield, near Edinburgh. He was educated at the city's high school, and then proceeded to the University of Edinburgh where he spent five years. He studied medicine under the eminent surgeon Alexander Wood, who was at the time head of the surgical profession in Edinburgh. He graduated MD on 12 September 1799. His thesis was entitled `De Hydrocephalo Phrenitico', and he continued to take a special interest in cerebral and mental diseases throughout his life.

Morison became a licentiate of the Edinburgh College of Physicians in 1800, and a fellow in 1801. He practiced medicine in Edinburgh for a time before, in 1808, moving to London. In the same year he became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London. Morison devoted his attention particularly to insanity. He was appointed inspecting physician of lunatic asylums in the county of Surrey in 1810. For many years he gave an annual course of lectures on mental diseases and became recognised as an expert in this field.

In 1826 he published Outlines of Lectures on Mental Diseases, and two years later, Cases of Mental Disease, with Practical Observations on the Medical Treatment (1828). In 1835 he became physician to the Bethlehem Hospital. He was also physician to Princess Charlotte and to Prince Leopold. He was knighted in 1838.

In 1840 Morison published The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases. His publications were brief but were illustrated with a large series of portraits of lunatics. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1841.

Morison died in Edinburgh on 14 March 1866, aged 86, and was buried at Currie.

Publications:
Outlines of Lectures on Mental Diseases (London, 1826)
Cases of Mental Disease, with Practical Observations on the Medical Treatment (London and Edinburgh, 1828)
The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases (London, 1840)