Dr. William Somerville

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Somerville_(physician)

The following was downloaded 2010 from http://www.burntisland.net/somerville-family-history.htm

Dr William Somerville (1771-1860) was an army surgeon who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Unlike Mary's first husband [Samuel Greig], he took a keen interest in her work and gave her great support and encouragement. In 1838 William became seriously ill. Shortly afterwards, for the benefit of his health, he, with his wife Mary and daughters Martha and Mary, moved to Italy where they remained until their deaths. William died in Florence in 1860, and is buried in the old Protestant Cemetery in the city.

Mary was William's second wife. His first wife was Ann Rutherfoord of Knowsouth, Roxburghshire, whom he married in 1806. They had a son, Thomas, born in 1807 in Malta. Sadly, Thomas died when he was two months old. Ann died in Falmouth in 1808.

William also fathered an illegitimate son, who became Dr James Craig Somerville. He was born about 1799. We are told that William named the boy for his friend and senior officer, General James Craig. William always acknowledged and supported James, who was made welcome in the family's social circle. He and Woronzow Greig were educated together, with William presumably footing the bill. James Craig Somerville had a relatively successful medical career, albeit tainted by allegations of gross professional misconduct. He was appointed Inspector of Anatomy for the London area in 1832. He served as a member of the Senate of the University of London for a few months in 1838, but was forced to resign in murky circumstances. He died in 1847.

- ~ : - ~ - ~ : - ~ - ~ : - ~ - ~ : - ~