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Alexander Reid Urquhart

Fellow

Alexander Reid Urquhart was born in Elgin in 1852 and graduated MD from the University of Aberdeen in 1877. Three years later he was appointed Superintendent of the Murray Royal Hospital. His work in mental health was accompanied by an interest in the role of arts and architecture in patient care, and during his tenure he oversaw the construction of a recreation hall, a chapel with organ, and two new villas, and encouraged musical and theatrical activities. He became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1893 and was elected a Fellow in 1894, and delivered the Morison Lectures in 1907. He published widely on asylum practice, medicine and law, and mental health care in Scotland. He died in 1917.