Studied at Aberdeen, where in 1882 he was Murray Scholar, and in 1885 John Murray Scholar; then at the London and Middlesex Hospitals, acting as House Surgeon at the latter. After serving as Clinical Assistant at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, he returned to Aberdeen as Demonstrator of Anatomy. Failing in efforts to obtain a position in anatomy, or as a hospital surgeon, he settled as a private practitioner in Upper Holloway, North London. He became Divisional Surgeon to the Metropolitan Police, District Medical Officer of the Post Office, and Medical Referee to the Pearl Assurance Company. The reputation he had gained as a teacher at Aberdeen followed him, and he was regarded by his friends as the embodiment of precise knowledge. His address in later years was 17 Pemberton Gardens, St John's Park, Upper Holloway, where he died of angina pectoris on July 2nd, 1923. He was survived by his widow, a daughter, and a son, who did good service in the Naval Flying Corps (RNAS) during the War, 1914-1918.