John G. S. Coghill
Dr John George Sinclair Coghill FRCPE FSA(Scot) (1834–1899) was a medical doctor specializing in obstetrics and respiratory complaints, especially tuberculosis, and was one of the earliest European medical doctors to travel to China and Japan. He also served in the Crimean War and later trained under Sir James Young Simpson. Early life John G. S. Coghill was born at Windsor in 1834, the son of John Coghill (1806–1882) and Alexandrina MacKay (d.1880). The family moved to Edinburgh in 1844 where his father ran a store at 10 Rose Street, with the family living over the shop. His father is also listed as a sergeant in the Royal Midlothian Yeomanry Cavalry. John grew up in Edinburgh where he attended the Royal High School. Both of Coghill's parents were from Caithness but as John G. S. Coghill's father, John Coghill, served in the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards the family moved around. J G. S. Coghill attended the Medical School at the University of Edinburgh and in 1857 he was awarded his MD which is now publicly available on the University's website. In the middle of his studies the Crimean War broke out and he volunteered as a surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, he sailed out on , part of the Baltic fleet, mostly operating between Memel and Riga. Coghill was a decorated war hero, having seen some action in the Baltic sea he received: the Baltic medal 1854–55, (engraved John G.S.Coghill, H.M.S. "Conflict"); and a miniature Baltic Medal. On his return from the conflict he continued his studies and was academically successful, especially in anatomy, midwifery and medical jurisprudence, receiving various awards for his studies. He was able to secure an apprenticeship with Sir James Young Simpson, with whom he lived for two years, to further his studies in obstetrics, before moving to Glasgow in 1859. Family life In 1861, whilst living at 17 Newton Terrace in Glasgow John G. S. Coghill married Agnes Darling. The Coghills went on to have twelve children, seven of these children were born in China and sadly only four of their children survived infancy; one son and three daughters. Three of these surviving children also pursued a career in medicine: Mary Stuart Sinclair Coghill-Hawkes (1862– : Born in Shanghai in 1862, she survived the diseases which had affected her family. She gained entry to the London School of Medicine for Women and took the Triple Qualification (LRCPE, LRCSE, LRFPSG) in 1896. Four years later she graduated MD at Brussels and shortly afterwards married Dr Lewis Hawkes who had also trained at Edinburgh and had been a medical officer at RNHC Ventnor, where her father worked. She became registrar and anesthetist at the Waterloo Hospital for Children and Women and in 1904 she founded the Swedish Institute, in London. Agnes Irene Sinclair Coghill (1872–1904): Mary's younger sister was born in Thurso, Caithness. She attended the Medical College for Women at Minto House, Edinburgh where she did well, gaining a distinction in gynecology. She graduated MB