Thomas Scattergood (1826-1900), surgeon, toxicologist, Lecturer, genealogist

Thomas Scattergood (1826-1900) was a surgeon, toxicologist and lecturer from Huddersfield. He began studying to become a surgeon apothecary in 1845 at the Leeds School of Medicine, which had opened in 1831. In 1846 he was appointed to the post of assistant apothecary at the Leeds General Infirmary. He continued in this post until 1850 when he obtained his MRCS and LSA qualifications.

The following year Scattergood went into general practice and also worked as an analytical chemist. The same year, he became Lecturer in Chemistry at the Leeds School of Medicine; he held various posts at the School for the next half a century. Between 1869 and 1888 he lectured in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, his expertise in this field was called on many times for forensic testing of evidence in legal cases – most notably he was involved in convicting Mary Ann Cotton for serial murder in 1873.

In addition to his work at the School, Scattergood was appointed as honorary surgeon to the Hospital for Women and Children, Leeds in 1863 until 1889. One of his key achievements was his work leading on the amalgamation of the Leeds School of Medicine with the Yorkshire College in 1884, upon which he became the first Dean of the new Faculty of Medicine.

Scattergood married Miss Haigh on 31 May 1854; they went on to have six children. Two of their sons, Arthur Kimberley and Oliver, also went on to practice medicine. Scattergood died in Leeds in February 1900.