James Black, son of James Black, J.P, of Knock, Banffshire, was educated at Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities. After obtaining the degree of M.D. in 1862, with a gold medal for his thesis, he visited the gynaecological clinics of Paris, Berlin and Vienna. He was then private assistant to Sir James Simpson for five years, and edited his chief’s principal works. In 1869 he left Edinburgh to become obstetric physician and lecturer on midwifery at Charing Cross Hospital. His connection with this Hospital was maintained until his death and, on retiring from the active staff in 1898, he was made consulting physician and became chairman of its council at a period of financial difficulty.

Black was an active member of the Obstetrical Society of London. He was president in 1891 and 1892, and contributed a paper on Puerperal Fever and Septic Poisoning to its Transactions. He was Examiner to the Royal College of Physicians and Oxford University. In his retirement he played a major part in the foundation and equipment of the Passmore Edwards Convalescent Home of Charing Cross Hospital. He owned one of the finest collections of flowering shrubs and ornamental trees in the country. He married in 1869 Mary Wedderburn, daughter of Captain James Cox of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders.

G H Brown

[Lancet, 1918; B.M.J., 1918]