Name:
James M. Douglas 
Location served:
Chatham, Morpeth  
Years in Practice:
1849 to 1869
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. James M. Douglas was born in Aughnacloy, Tyrone, Ireland in 1816.  Dr. Douglas studied medicine at universities in Edinburgh and Glasgow and received his medical licence, M.R.C.S. in Edinburgh in 1841.  Dr. Douglas practiced medicine for 8 years in Glasgow, Scotland, before emigrating to New York City, U.S.A. in about 1849.

Dr. Douglas lived and worked in the 14th Ward of New York City for 7 years, before moving to Chatham in 1856.

According to the 1867 Medical Register, Dr. Douglas received his Provincial Licence in 1857.

Dr. Douglas appears in the 1861 Canadian Census in Chatham, living with his wife Frances “Fannie”.  According to that census, Dr. Douglas was listed as being 45 years of age and Mrs. Douglas appeared as 40 years of age.  That same census recorded that Mrs. Douglas had been born in Ireland.

An article appeared in the Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet on the 27th of March, 1857 advising the community that Dr. and Mrs. Douglas’s only child, James Francis Douglas died on the 26th of March, 1857 at the age of 10 months and 26 days.

Dr. Douglas advertised his practice in the 1861-62 Great Western Railway Directory and Gazetteer under Chatham on King Street.

In October of 1864 he was known to be practicing medicine in Morpeth.  It is not known how long he was in Morpeth, but according to the 1864-1865 Kent County Directory and Gazetteer Dr. Douglas had moved back to Chatham and he had an office on King Street.  He was listed as a coroner in Kent County in the 1866-1867 Kent, Lambton and Essex County Directory and Gazetteer.

Mrs. Douglas died on the 8th of June, 1869.  She was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.  Dr. Douglas died 2 days later on the 11th of June, 1869 and he was buried next to his wife.

*Note: The article in the Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet spelled baby James’ last name as Douglass (double “s”).

Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.