Fellows of Senate

Sir Thomas Peter Anderson Stuart

Sir Thomas Peter Anderson Stuart was a Fellow of Senate of the University of Sydney from 1883 to 1920. From 1883 to 1913 he was an ex-officio Fellow, being "a Professor of the University in such branch of learning as the Senate may from time to time select", and from 1913 to 1920 he was a Fellow elected by the Faculties.

Profile

(1856-1920)
MD HonLLD Edin]] Hon DSc [[Durham MD Melb
Fellow of Senate: 1883-1920
Chairman, Professorial Board: 1887

Stuart was born at Dumfries, Scotland, on 20 June 1856 and educated at the Dumfries academy. He was apprenticed to a chemist at the age of 14, passed the preliminary examination of the Pharmaceutical Society and at 16 passed the minor examination which entitled him to registration as a chemist when he came of age.

He then studied medicine at Edinburgh University, completing his course in 1880 with first-class honours and the Ettles scholarship. Asked to become Professor Rutherford’s chief demonstrator, he made further studies in physiology and chemistry at Strasburg, returning to Edinburgh as demonstrator, and shortly afterwards qualified for the degree of MD.

In 1882 a medical school at the University of Sydney was to be established. Applications were subsequently invited for a chair of anatomy and physiology and Thomas Peter Anderson Stuart came from Edinburgh to fill the chair and to establish the medical school in 1883. He developed ideas for a new medical building and in 1887, a new building subsequently known as the Anderson Stuart Building was commenced on plans prepared by Blacket. The first part of the building was finished in 1891, and the building was completed in 1922. When Stuart's chair was divided in 1890 he retained physiology, and J T Wilson was appointed to the new professorship of anatomy.

Stuart found time to do public lecturing and took an active interest in the Prince Alfred Hospital, becoming chairman in 1901.

In 1901 he was responsible for the opening of a department of dentistry at the University.

The number of medical students rose steadily through the years and additions were made to the buildings and the staff was increased.

In 1908 he was largely concerned in the founding of the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Townsville and in 1914 he was created a knight bachelor.

"The Faculty of Medicine owes its development to the genius of Sir Thomas Anderson Stuart, a man of great ability, determination and energy who presided as its Dean until his death in 1920." (History of the Medical Faculty)

Information from the Australian Dictionary of Biography, and the History of the Medical Faculty.