James Duncan Matthews FRSE (1851–1890) was a short-lived but influential Scottish zoologist who worked closely with James Cossar Ewart.
He was born 12 November 1851 at 16 Adelphi Court[1] in Aberdeen the son of the future Lord Provost, James Matthews, an architect, and his wife, Elizabeth Duncan.[2] He originally trained as an architect but in 1869 he suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever which greatly damaged his health. He then entered Aberdeen University studying Zoology under James Cossar Ewart who became a lifelong colleague and friend (Ewart was actually the younger of the pair). He travelled to both Australia and America for educational and health reasons.[3]
He worked with George Brook at the Fishery Board of Scotland involved in food fish research.
In 1883 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were William Turner, James Matthews Duncan, John Gray McKendrick and James Cossar Ewart.[4]
He died on 21 November 1890. He is buried with his parents in St Nicholas Churchyard in Aberdeen.