James Simson (1740–1770) was an 18th-century Scottish medical academic who served as the second Chandos Professor of Medicine and Anatomy at the University of St Andrews. Born on March 21, 1740, to Thomas and Margaret Simson, he was raised in an academic environment and pursued a career in medicine, eventually earning his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. His father, Thomas Simson, was the first Chandos Professor, establishing a family legacy at the institution.\n\nIn 1764, Simson succeeded his father in the prestigious Chandos Chair at St Andrews, continuing the family's academic influence. He remained in this teaching and administrative role until his untimely death on August 30, 1770. Though his tenure was relatively brief, his legacy was cemented by the bequest of his personal library to the University of St Andrews. This collection, containing over 200 medical books, remains in the possession of the university library today, serving as a historical resource of 18th-century medical literature.
