Person:John Cowan (127)

John Black COWAN was born 14 sep 1829 in Barony parish. He became Prof. John Black COWAN, M.D., LL.D., Regius Professor of Materia Medica at Glasgow University, resident at 9 Woodside Terrace, and according to his will, died 27jul1896 at Largs, Ayrshire. He married (1) Mary Anne STOKES (born abt 1835, Ireland) (1861census) and (2) married Anne B.B. ALSTON 1jun1864 in Blythswood, Glasgow. John's 1st wife Mary Anne/Marianne was his 1st cousin; their common relatives were John Black and Margaret McNair (b. 1778). Mary Anne Stokes, spinster, 5 Merrion Sq. N., daughter of William Stokes, MD, married John Black Cowan, MD, bachelor, W. Regent St. Glasgow, son of Robert Cowan, MD, 29jul1857 at Dublin, witnesses William Stokes and Macdougall (irishgen). Mary Anne Stokes, daughter of William, married John Black Cowan, son of Robert, both single, 29jul1857 at Dublin (familysearch).

In 1851 John Black Cowan (b. 1829), surgeon, was at Glasgow General Infirmary (census). In 1861 J. B. Cowan, M. D. University of Glasgow and Physician, lived with wife Mary A. (b. 1835, Ireland) and children Mary (b. 1859 Glasgow), Margaret (b. 1860 Glasgow) and a son (b. 1861 Glasgow) at 216 W. George St., Glasgow; John’s sister in law, Margaret M. Stokes (b. 1832 Ireland) was visiting (census). In 1889-1890 J. B. Cowan was at 8 Park Terrace, Glasgow (PO directory, page 203). In 1881 the following family, all born at Barony, Glasgow, lived at Woodend, Row, Dunbartonshire: John B. Cowan, head, physician (not practising) LLD, MD, University of Glasgow (1830), wife Anne B. B. (1828), children Mary (1858), Margaret (1860) and Anne M. C. (1865) with a visitor and 5 servants (census). In 1891 John B. Cowan (b. 1829) lived at 3 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow, with wife Anne B. B. (b. 1828 Glasgow) and children Mary, Margaret, Ann and James W. A. (census).

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow have photos, family trees etc. relating to John Marshall Cowan. The Cowans were a distinguished medical family with connections with the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons stretching back to Patrick Marshall, surgeon of Kilsyth, (1631-1697). This collection relates mainly to John Marshall Cowan MD DSc LLD (1870-1947), the son of Dr J B Cowan, Regius Professor of Materia Medica, University of Glasgow, and grandson of Robert Cowan, Professor of Medical Jurisprudence, University of Glasgow.

John was born 14sep1829 at 42 West Nile St., Glasgow. He received the degree of M.D. 1851, LL.D. 1880, LFPSG 1851 and FFPSG 1863. He was Civil Surgeon in the Army in Crimea, lecturer in Anderson’s College, Glasgow, on medical jurisprudence (1856-1862) and practice of medicine (1862-1865). Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Glasgow (1865-1880) and member of the University Court as Senate’s advisor (1876-1880). He died at Brookesby, Largs 27jul1896 (“McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies”, compiled by James Birtley McNair. 1955, 1960 supplements).

From an article on the Glasgow medical faculty: John Black Cowan (1828-1896) Cowan succeeded Easton in 1865 but poor health ended his professional career at the early age of 51, and so his life was a story of promise unfulfilled. Born into a family with a long history of medical practice in Glasgow, after the almost mandatory travel round the medical schools of Europe, he was one of a small band of young Glasgow graduates, including G.H.B. Macleod and G. Buchanan, who served as civil practitioners in the Crimea. From 1856 to 1865 he held appointments in medical jurisprudence and medicine in Anderson’s College, the training school for many University professors, and enjoyed a large private practice. His special interest was diseases of children and he had College but soon turned to obstetrics and, from 1860 onwards, contributed papers on this subject to the Glasgow Medical Journal; the most important was entitled ‘The Mechanism of Parturition’ published in three parts. This established his reputation as a man of mark in the profession and in 1868 he was an obvious choice for the Regius Chair of Midwifery on the death of Dr Pagan. At this time, midwifery lacked a good textbook in the English language and Leishman devoted himself to correcting the shortcoming. His System of Midwifery (1870) enjoyed great success, reaching fourth English and third American editions in 1888. It earned praise not just as a medical work, but as a model of fluent clear language. A great reader of varied literature both English and foreign, especially French and German, his love of letters was reflected in his lectures which were concise and interesting with a distinct scholarly flavour. Professionally a strong advocate of the influence of nature in the cure of disease, he was opposed to meddling interference in obstetrics.

Photo: http://bulgar12.tripod.com/family/index.album/john-black-cowan?i=5&s=1

1. ↑ Will or testament, Scotland.
2.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).
3.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008)
   Batch #: M119271, Sheet #: 00, Source Call #: 6035516 REGISTER, Printout Call #: NONE, Date.
4.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008)
   Batch #: C119664, Sheet #: 00, Source Call #: 1041478, Printout Call #: 6901464, Dates: 181.
5.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).
6.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).
7.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1891 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).
8.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1881 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).