even when in the wrong he was a formidable opponent. His foresight was as remarkable as his insight. He anticipated in advance of his time the development of ovariotomy. Always suggestive in his occasional addresses, he may be credited with having prophesied in his graduation address the discovery of Röntgen's rays. ‘Possibly even by the concentration of electrical and other lights we may render many parts of the body, if not the whole body, sufficiently diaphanous for the inspection of the practised eye of the physician and surgeon.’ In his treatment of one subject, however, he did not show his characteristic sagacity. He attacked the Listerian system of antiseptics, although it was the use of antiseptics that rendered his own valuable methods of uterine investigation and dilatation free from danger to health and life.
Simpson interested himself in literature as well as in science, and devoted much energy to archæological studies. He published three volumes on antiquarian subjects. After a few months' suffering from angina pectoris, Simpson died on 6 May 1870 at his hospitable house, 52 Queen Street. His family declined the offer of a grave in Westminster Abbey, and he was buried in Warriston cemetery, Edinburgh. That city accorded him a public funeral. A statue was erected to him in Princes Street, but the Maternity and Simpson Memorial Hospital, erected at the expense of his friends, is his chief monument in Edinburgh. A bust has been placed in Westminster Abbey, and on it is recorded that to Simpson's ‘genius and benevolence the world owes the blessings derived from the use of chloroform for the relief of suffering.’
Simpson possessed an inspiring and vigorous personality. His sympathetic manner appealed to all he met. He was always ready to attend the poor. An admirable host, he gathered about him representatives of many ranks and opinions. His conversation, like his writings, showed a rare alertness of intellect, and few of his profession have proved more successful lecturers. By his achievements and mental power he claims association in the history of medical science with Harvey, Jenner, and Lister.
Simpson married, in 1839, Jessie Grindlay, his cousin, who survived him only a few weeks. Five of his nine children died before him. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son Walter Grindlay.
Simpson's scattered papers and essays were collected in a series of volumes (all published at Edinburgh), of which the titles are:
- ‘Obstetric Memoirs and Contributions,’ edited by W. O. Priestley and H. R. Storer, 2 vols. 8vo, 1855–6.
- ‘Selected Obstetrical and Gynæcological Works,’ edited by Dr. W. Black, 1871, 8vo.
- ‘Anæsthesia, Hospitalism,’ &c., edited by his son, Sir W. G. Simpson, bart., 1871.
- ‘Clinical Lectures on the Diseases of Women,’ edited by Professor Alexander Russell Simpson, 1872.
- ‘Archæological Essays,’ edited by J. Stuart, LL.D., 2 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1873.
The index catalogue of the library of the surgeon-general's office, U.S. Army, Washington, gives a full list of Simpson's separate contributions to medical periodicals (cf. Allibone's Dict. of English Lit. ii. 2108).
[Memoir by John Duns, D.D. (with portrait), Edinburgh, 1873, 8vo; Sir James Young Simpson (in Famous Scots Series) by Miss E. B. Simpson, 1896, 8vo; and private information.]
SIMPSON, Mrs. JANE CROSS (1811–1886), hymn-writer, daughter of James Bell, advocate, was born at Glasgow on 12 Nov. 1811. Educated by her father, she studied the classics as well as the ordinary subjects of a girl's training, and travelled much on the continent. For some years, from 1822 onwards, Bell was assessor and town-clerk of Greenock, when his daughter contributed frequently to the ‘Greenock Advertiser’ under the pseudonym of ‘Gertrude.’ In 1831, as ‘Gertrude,’ she wrote a noteworthy hymn on prayer, ‘Go when the morning shineth,’ for the ‘Edinburgh Literary Journal,’ then edited by her brother, Henry Glassford Bell [q. v.] She also contributed frequently, both in prose and verse, to the ‘Scottish Christian Herald.’ In 1837 she married her half-cousin, J. Bell Simpson, an artist and bibliographer, who was librarian of the Stirling Library, Glasgow, from 1851 to 1860; he published in 1872 ‘Literary and Dramatic Sketches,’ and died on 17 Dec. 1874. After her husband's death Mrs. Simpson resided with her married daughter, Mrs. Napier, successively at Portobello in Midlothian, Newport in Fifeshire, and Aberdeen. In her later years she wrote frequently for ‘Good Words,’ the ‘Christian Leader,’ and other periodicals. She died at Aberdeen on 17 June 1886. She was survived by two daughters out of a family of eight.
Mrs. Simpson published:
- ‘Piety of Daily Life,’ tales and sketches, 1836.
- ‘April Hours,’ a poem, 1838.
- ‘Woman's History,’ 1848.
- ‘Linda, or Beauty and Genius,’ 1859; 2nd edit. 1884.
- ‘Household edition of Burns's Works in Prose and Verse, edited by Gertrude,’ 2 vols. 8vo, 1870.
- ‘Picture Poems, and Linda and other Poems,’ 1879.
Her best hymns appeared in
