Born in Edinburgh in 1826, Henry Duncan Littlejohn was educated at Perth Academy. He taught for 42 years at the School of Medicine of the Royal College of Surgeons in the field of medical jurisprudence and public health. In 1897 he was made Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the University of Edinburgh. Amongst his other positions are included: Surgeon of Police (for Edinburgh – created 1854); Medical Advisor to the British Royal family; and, Medical Officer for Health (for Edinburgh – the first in this post – created 1862). In the latter role, Henry Duncan Littlejohn is credited in improving the health of the residents of Edinburgh – as well as reducing the death rate. Littlejohn who died in 1914 was also a founder of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
