James Jameson

Surgeon-General James Jameson (15 August 1837 – 13 September 1904) was a British Army surgeon during the late 19th century, seeing service during the Franco-Prussian War and heading the Army Medical Services from 1896 to 1901, during which time the Royal Army Medical Corps was established. Early career Born in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Jameson was educated at Glasgow University, and entered the Army as a staff assistant surgeon in 1857. He saw service in Canada (1862) and in Trinidad (1870), where he was promoted to Surgeon for service during a yellow fever epidemic. He commanded a division of the English Ambulance during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) and was promoted to Surgeon Major in 1873. Royal Army Medical Corps He was appointed Brigade Surgeon in 1883, deputy Surgeon General in 1888, and Surgeon Major-General in 1893. In 1896, he succeeded Sir William MacKinnon as Director General in 1896, retaining the post until his retirement in 1901, by which time he had overseen operations in the Second Boer War. The Royal Army Medical Corps was established during Jameson's term in office, and the South African campaign confirmed the need for strong medical support beyond that previously provided by the Army Medical Department.