Alexander Stevenson MD PRCPSG FRSE (1726 - 1791) was an 18th-century Scottish physician who co-founded the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783. He was also twice President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (1757 and 1773).[1]
He was born in Edinburgh in 1725/26 the son of Dr John Stevenson. Some sources say he was born in Dolgain in Ayrshire.[2]
He studied medicine at Glasgow University gaining his doctorate (MD) in 1746. He set up practice in Glasgow and from 1766 to 1789 was also Professor of Medicine at Glasgow University,[3] succeeding Prof Joseph Black.[4]
On 29 October 1773 he had breakfast (also with Profs Reid and Anderson) with James Boswell and Dr Samuel Johnson during their famous tour of Scotland.[5]
He lived his later years in a house on the east side of Virginia Street.[6]
He died in Glasgow on 29 May 1791.
He was married to Jean Pickegg.
His sister, Juliana Stevenson, was mother to Thomas Charles Hope.[7] Hope succeeded him in his role as Professor of Medicine following his retiral in 1789.[8]