The son of James Long, a Lancashire merchant. He was probably born at Poulton, and was apprenticed to Mr Halton, a Surgeon to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. To the apprenticeship system Long used often to attribute that thorough grasp of practical detail in medicine and surgery on which his success as a practitioner was based. He completed his professional training at University College, London, where his brother George was afterwards the distinguished Professor of Greek and Latin (d 1879). His first appointment was that of House Surgeon to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. He then settled in practice and was appointed Surgeon to the Dispensaries, a position held by him until 1855, when he returned to the Infirmary as one of its Surgeons. In 1867 he resigned and was appointed Consulting Surgeon, retaining to the last his interest in the Infirmary. Long assisted in founding the School of Medicine of the Infirmary, and was actively connected with it during thirty-two years, both as an Hon Secretary and as teacher, lecturing successively on anatomy, physiology, and surgery. He was deeply interested in the education of the nurses of the Infirmary, and his lectures to them, since published, were remarkably sound as well as easy and engaging in style. As a practitioner he was conspicuous for his power of diagnosis. Not a brilliant operator, he yet often obtained brilliant results by a judicious selection of cases and scrupulous care in after-treatment. His practice was for many years very large, and he was constantly called in consultation. He was a great reader and a keen observer. Being possessed of much determination and disposed to be sanguine, it can well be understood how it was that the remark was so often made about him: "Long never gives a patient up". His brusqueness undoubtedly sometimes interfered with his professional success. It was almost Abernethian, both in character and manner. But he was not unkind, though he often made remarks out of due season, and his friends knew him to be warm-hearted under a somewhat rough exterior. Long had just celebrated the seventieth anniversary of his birthday, when he died somewhat unexpectedly at his residence, 15 Hardman Street, Liverpool, on Saturday, December 20th, 1879. He was survived by a widow, four sons, and a daughter. His eldest son was Surgeon Major Long. He was buried in Hedge Hill churchyard on Dec 24th, 1879, his funeral being numerously attended by the profession and by representatives of all classes. Publications: Long published his *Lectures to Nurses* shortly before his death, and to the last was a contributor to the medical journals. His contributions are described by the *Lancet* as essentially practical. He drew attention to the use of aconite in the treatment of rigors after catheterism.