Alexander Ogston

Sir Alexander Ogston MD CM LLD (19 April 1844 – 1 February 1929) was a British surgeon, famous for his discovery of Staphylococcus.

Life Ogston was the eldest son of Amelia Cadenhead and her husband Prof. Francis Ogston (1803–1887), Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the University of Aberdeen. He had a brother who was also a professor.

University of Aberdeen Ogston began his medical training at Marischal College in 1862 and graduated as Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery at the recently united University of Aberdeen in 1865 with honours in medicine and surgery at the age of 21.

He obtained his MD a year later in 1866. He was appointed as a full surgeon to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 1874. He is credited with the introduction of carbolic spray to Aberdeen.

Staphylococcus Ogston was reported to have called on Joseph Lister and rigorously followed his antiseptic principles.

Private life Ogston married twice. He had three children with his first wife Mary Jane Molly Ogston (née Hargrave). They were Mary Letitia, Francis, Flora and Walter Henry. His wife died in 1873 and he later remarried and they had five children, Alfred James, Douglas John, Helen Charlotte Elizabeth, Constance Amelia Irene, Rose, Alexander and Ranald Frederick. Both Helen and Constance were active suffragettes.

Royal acknowledgement In 1892, Queen Victoria appointed him Surgeon in Ordinary, a post he also held under King Edward VII and King George V. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1912.

Legacy The Surgical Society of the University of Aberdeen is named the "Ogston Society" in his honour. The University Department of Surgery also awards an annual prize in his honour to the best student in surgery.