Introduction
James Wilson (1765–1821) was a Scottish anatomist. A pupil of John Hunter, he took over Hunter's position teaching anatomy at the Great Windmill Street School, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is eponym of Wilson's muscle in the constrictor urethræ.
Life
He was born in Beith, Ayrshire. His father moved to London, and he became assistant to William Cumberland Cruikshank: he made dissections for Cruikshank and John Hunter. He also studied under William Hunter and Matthew Baillie. He then became a demonstrator and lecturer on anatomy; and was licensed to teach classes in surgery; he attracted naval and military men, and James McGrigor was among his pupils. His private lectures were then taken over by Benjamin Brodie, and Wilson concentrated on the Great Windmill Street School.
Family
Wilson married the sister of John Clarke. The physician James Arthur Wilson was their son.