Biography.guide
Home › People › Naturalist › James McBain
Portrait of James McBain

James McBain

b. 1807

Scottish Royal Navy surgeon and marine biologist

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About James McBain

Born 1807. James McBain was a naturalist.

James McBain FRSE (1807-1879) was a Scottish Royal Navy surgeon and marine biologist. He served as President of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh 1861 to 1864.

Life McBain (his name was often given as James M'Bain) was born in Logie, Angus in 1807. He was educated at Kirriemuir Parish School then apprenticed to a local surgeon, aged 14.

Joining the Royal Navy in 1827 he was posted as Assistant Surgeon on the recently recommissioned HMS Undaunted. Here he served under Sir Augustus Clifford, sailing to India. This included taking Lord William Bentinck as a passenger to take up his role as Governor General. In 1831 the captainship transferred to Edward Harvey and included a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1832 McBain joined the survey ship HMS Investigator under Captain Barber, plying between London and Quebec.

He left the Navy in 1848 and bought a house in Elie in Fife before finally moving to Edinburgh in 1861. In Edinburgh he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being fellow naturalist, John Hutton Balfour.

He died at home, Logie Villa (named after his birthplace) on York Road in Trinity, Edinburgh on 21 March 1879.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1807
Birth century
Occupation
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Frequently asked questions

Who was James McBain?

Scottish Royal Navy surgeon and marine biologist (1807–1879)

When was James McBain born?

James McBain was born in 1807.

What was James McBain's occupation?

James McBain was a naturalist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James McBain

· Wikidata: Q30612106

· DBpedia: James McBain (naturalist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James McBain. https://biography.guide/james-mcbain/

MLA: "James McBain." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-mcbain/.

Chicago: "James McBain." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-mcbain/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:32 UTC