James Gardner Jamieson was born in Glasgow on 7 March 1915, the eldest son of James Jamieson, an engineer and Elizabeth (née Tennant). He was educated at Hillhead High School, Glasgow, and at Latymer School, Hammersmith, before entering St Bartholomew's Hospital for medical studies, where he came under the influence of Sir Geoffrey Keynes and Victor Riddell. After an appointment as house physician at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, and a short period as ship's surgeon he enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps in September 1939, serving in the Middle East, Sicily and Italy. He attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, was mentioned in despatches in 1943 and awarded the OBE in the following year. After demobilisation in December 1945 he returned to St Bartholomew's and passed the London MB in 1946. He was demonstrator and later senior lecturer in anatomy and preclinical sub-dean at St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School until 1950 when he passed the FRCS and was surgical registrar at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital. He later became senior registrar at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, and first surgical assistant at St George's Hospital under Sir Ralph Marnham and Lord Smith. In 1957 he was appointed consultant surgeon to the West Cumberland Group of Hospitals and rapidly acquired a high reputation as an able surgeon and skilled administrator. He played an important role in the building and commissioning of the new general hospital at Whitehaven as chairman of the medical advisory committee. He also carried out much medico-legal work, often appearing as an expert witness in the High Court. He enjoyed country pursuits, especially fishing for salmon and trout and was an expert gardener; in his early years he led a jazz band and later was a fine pianist. An engaging, warm-hearted and generous man, he was an interesting raconteur and a good after-dinner speaker. He married a Miss Shelly in 1940 and they had two daughters. After her death he remarried and when he died on 26 July 1990, aged 75, he was survived by his wife, Barbara, the daughters of his first marriage and two stepsons.