James Copland (physician)

James Copland (1791-1870) was a Scottish physician and lexicographer, best known for his monumental Dictionary of Practical Medicine. Born in Deerness, Orkney, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he became a member of the Royal Medical Society. After service as a surgeon in the Royal Navy, he embarked on a career in London, first as a general practitioner and later as a consulting physician.

Copland was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1833. He also held positions at the Middlesex Hospital and the Royal College of Physicians. His primary contribution to the field of medicine was his comprehensive Dictionary of Practical Medicine, a work that occupied much of his professional life. The first volume was published in 1832 and the entire work was completed in 1858, eventually comprising three large volumes with a supplement. The dictionary was a significant achievement, offering a detailed overview of medical knowledge at the time, encompassing descriptions of diseases, their causes, symptoms, and treatments. While later superseded by advances in medical science, it remains a valuable historical resource, reflecting the state of medical understanding in the 19th century. Beyond the dictionary, Copland also published other medical works and articles. He died in Kilmuir Easter, Ross-shire.