Sir William Fergusson, a Scottish surgeon, born at Prestonpans, East Lothian, March 20, 1808. He early became confidential assistant to the celebrated anatomists Dr. Knox and John Turner, and in 1828 licentiate of the college of surgeons. He began to lecture on surgery in 1831, and in 1840 was called to London as professor of surgery in King's college. He was surgeon in ordinary to the prince consort Albert, and was created a baronet in 1865. He was elected president of the royal college of surgeons July 11, 1870. Besides special papers on cleft palate, lithotomy, litho-trity, aneurism, and others, he has published "A System of Practical Surgery" (London, 1848), and Progress of Anatomy and Surgery in the 19th Century" (1867). He is also the inventor of numerous surgical instruments.