Born in Glasgow on 2 December 1809, Fleming studied at the University of Glasgow and qualified in medicine in 1830. in 1833 he joined the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons and was later its president for five years, his repeated re-election being regarded as an unusual honour. He served for 15 years on the General Medical Council .
Fleming worked as a surgeon (and served as a director) at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He also worked at the Royal Asylum for Lunatics and the Old Man's Institution. He made various contributions to the Glasgow Medical Journal, but his principal work of medical literature was "On the Medical Statistics of Life Assurance," based on the results of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society, of which he was an adviser.
He died in Glasgow on 2 October 1879. There are memorial windows to his family in Glasgow Cathedral and the Ramshorn Church.
DR. FLEMING was born in Glasgow on 2nd December, 1809, and died there on 2nd October, 1879. His ancestors had been merchant burgesses of Glasgow since 1643, and of this old connection with the city he was naturally proud. It was probably in some measure owing to his relationship with Dr. John Balmanno, one of the last survivors of the old type of "pure physicians," as they were called, that he fixed upon medicine as his profession, and after passing through the usual curriculum of study in the University of Glasgow, he took his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1830. He had subsequently the great advantage of making an extended tour on the Continent, and visiting its chief medical schools.
In 1833 Dr. Fleming became a member of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, a corporation which has fully participated in the growth and prosperity of Glasgow, and of which, as the subject of our memoir was for long identified with its interests, it may not be out of place to say a few words. In 1599 King James the Sixth granted a Royal Charter to "Peter Lowe, surgeon, and Robert Hamilton, professor of medicine, and their successors," in virtue of which the Faculty has ever since exercised the power of granting licenses to duly qualified candidates for their diploma. Peter Lowe, usually regarded as the founder of the Faculty, was a remarkable man, and had practised the art of surgery in France and Flanders as well as in Glasgow. He was, indeed, at one time "ordinary chirurgeon to the French King, and followed him in the warres six years." He died in Glasgow, and his burying-place on the south wall of the High Churchyard was acquired by the Faculty in 1833 from Mr. Gray of Carntyne, who subsequently, through Dr. Fleming, presented a pair of gauntlet gloves which had been worn by Lowe.
The subsequent history of the Faculty has been written at some length by the late Dr. Weir, but it may be stated that in 1796 it contained only 28 members, while at present there are 205 names on the roll of Fellows, and its Licentiates are scattered in large numbers over the whole world. One of the most illustrious of these was David Livingstone. The Faculty, besides its regular professional objects, is in other ways closely connected with the city. It elects directors to most of the charitable institutions, and has an intimate connection with the Botanic Gardens. Its library is a large and valuable one, yearly receiving considerable additions, and it contains some interesting portraits of former presidents. From the time when Dr. Fleming joined the Faculty he took a keen interest in its welfare, and it is not too much to say that its present prosperity is due in a very large measure to his exertions, and the wholesome influence he exercised. For five years he was its president, his repeated re-election being an unusual honour, and one which clearly indicates the value entertained of his services by his professional brethren. So, too, his holding the appointment for fifteen years of representative in the General Medical Council, attests the confidence placed in him by those best qualified to judge of his business habits and his desire to improve medical education and advance medical science.
Dr. Fleming acted for some years as surgeon to the Royal Infirmary - one of the largest and most complete hospitals in the kingdom. From the varying nature of the great industries which surround Glasgow there are always in its wards cases of injury of every kind and degree, and necessarily a large amount of operative practice. The experience acquired within its walls is of inestimable benefit to the profession, and through them to the public. Dr. Fleming was not what is termed a brilliant operator, but all his work was done with the greatest care and the utmost consideration for his patients. He was also surgeon to the Royal Asylum for Lunatics and the Old Man's Institution, and Examiner in the University of Glasgow, the duties of which offices he performed faithfully and successfully. Many men in the profession of medicine devote themselves exclusively to its practice, but Dr. Fleming took a keen interest in many of the charities of the city, and gave up a large portion of his time to participation in their management. Of the Royal Infirmary he was long a Director, and in that capacity, and also as Chairman of the Medical Committee, he exercised a wholesome and just influence. Although holding strongly to his own views in matters of controversy, he was eminently fair and judicial, and his colleagues invariably listened to him with respect.
Dr. Fleming was engaged in extensive, practice, of which in his latter years a considerable part was in consultation with others. In addition to his experience and skill, he was the warm friend and trusted counsellor of his patients, and his kindness of heart won for him the personal affection of those who knew him best. In society Dr. Fleming was a delightful companion, full of anecdote and reminiscences, many of the latter pertaining to Old Glasgow and its inhabitants. Indeed, he was in every essential a Glasgow man - proud of its progress and extension - interested in its landmarks and institutions, and never ceasing to predict its future growth and prosperity.
Although Dr. Fleming was not a copious author, all his writings were characterized by sound judgment and sense. He contributed some of his surgical experiences to the "Glasgow Medical Journal," and wrote an able paper suggesting important changes in the arrangements of the medical staff of the Infirmary.
But his principal addition to medical literature was "On the Medical Statistics of Life Assurance," founded on the results of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society, of which he was for many years the adviser. It is a very able and accurate analysis of the experience of that institution during thirty-four years.
In politics Dr. Fleming was a staunch Conservative, and he was also an attached adherent of the Church of Scotland. It may be added that memorial windows of the Fleming family have been placed in the Cathedral and in the Ramshorn Church.
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