Thomas Stewart Traill
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stewart Traill was a Scottish physician, chemist, mineralogist, meteorologist, zoologist and scholar of medical jurisprudence
.
He was the grandfather of the physicist, meteorologist and geologist Robert Traill Omond.
in Orkney, the son of the Rev Thomas Traill (died 1782), the minister in Kirkwall, and studied at Edinburgh University (MD 1802). He practiced medicine
for 30 years in Liverpool
, and was a founder of the Royal Institution of Liverpool, the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution and the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool. He became acquainted with the Arctic explorer William Scoresby
, contributing a list of animals observed in eastern Greenland
to Scoresby's Journal of a Voyage to the Northern Whale Fishery (1823). Scoresby named Traill Island
in Greenland for him.
When John James Audubon
arrived in Liverpool in July 1826 Traill helped him to find a publisher for his The Birds of America. Audubon named the Traill's Flycatcher after him, which at one time referred to a species which included both the Willow Flycatcher
(Empidonax traillii) and the Alder Flycatcher
(Empidonax alnorum).
(1852–61), which concluded a year before his death.
He died in Edinburgh on 30 July 1862, and was interred at St Cuthbert's cemetery.
Medical jurisprudence
Medical jurisprudence, or forensic medicine in the broad sense , now embraces all matters which may bring the physician into contact with the law...
.
He was the grandfather of the physicist, meteorologist and geologist Robert Traill Omond.
Early life
Traill was born at KirkwallKirkwall
Kirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty...
in Orkney, the son of the Rev Thomas Traill (died 1782), the minister in Kirkwall, and studied at Edinburgh University (MD 1802). He practiced medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
for 30 years in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and was a founder of the Royal Institution of Liverpool, the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution and the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool. He became acquainted with the Arctic explorer William Scoresby
William Scoresby
William Scoresby , was an English Arctic explorer, scientist and clergyman.-Early years:Scoresby was born in the village of Cropton near Pickering 26 miles south of Whitby in Yorkshire. His father, William Scoresby , made a fortune in the Arctic whale fishery...
, contributing a list of animals observed in eastern Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
to Scoresby's Journal of a Voyage to the Northern Whale Fishery (1823). Scoresby named Traill Island
Traill Island
Traill Island is a large island in eastern Greenland. It is named after zoologist Thomas Stewart Traill. The highest point of the island is 1884 m. Traill Island is a part of the Northeast Greenland National Park....
in Greenland for him.
When John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
arrived in Liverpool in July 1826 Traill helped him to find a publisher for his The Birds of America. Audubon named the Traill's Flycatcher after him, which at one time referred to a species which included both the Willow Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
The Willow Flycatcher is a small insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family.Adults have brown-olive upperparts, darker on the wings and tail, with whitish underparts; they have an indistinct white eye ring, white wing bars and a small bill. The breast is washed with olive-grey. The upper...
(Empidonax traillii) and the Alder Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
The Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum, is a small insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family.Adults have olive-brown upperparts, browner on the wings and tail, with whitish underparts; they have a white eye ring, white wing bars, a small bill and a short tail. The breast is washed with...
(Empidonax alnorum).
Edinburgh University and the Encyclopædia Britannica
Traill returned to Edinburgh University in 1833 as a professor of medical jurisprudence. He edited the 8th edition of the Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
(1852–61), which concluded a year before his death.
He died in Edinburgh on 30 July 1862, and was interred at St Cuthbert's cemetery.