PURDIE, WILLIAM (1797-1876) was born at Airdrie, Lanarkshire, the son of a farmer. He educated himself as a boy, and eventually got to Glasgow and apprenticed himself (1822) to Walter Rankin, a surgeon of Airdrie. He attended the lectures in anatomy at McKenzie's dissecting rooms in Glasgow, riding 10 miles each way every day. A year or two later he attended James Armour's lectures in midwifery, and eventually he passed for his degree in surgery in 1825. He started a practice in Edinburgh, taking lectures at the Royal Infirmary. In 1829 he was admitted a burgess in the parish of Canongate, either because he was a freeholder or for public services rendered.

In 1831 Purdie's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of cholera. In Edinburgh the epidemic gained an alarming hold in the parish of Canongate. Purdie did Trojan service in combating it, and received a handsome testimonial from the public. In 1833 he gained his degree of M.D. at Glasgow University. He then made a few voyages to Greenland as surgeon in Scottish whaling ships. Here he enforced a strict regime in the use of alcohol, and succeeded in making a reputation for his crews by resisting the ravages of scurvy. Throughout life he was a teetotaller. Purdie having married, settled down to practise in Edinburgh, attracted by the opportunities it gave him for postgraduate study and contact with the highest intellects in medicine. He was a prompt convert to vaccination, and brought a supply of lymph in 1849 to Otago, where it is believed he was the first practitioner to use it. He also recognised the advantages of chloroform, and in 1846 adopted the homeopathic system of treatment. His busy practice did not prevent him taking part in social and religious movements, notably the Edinburgh Mission, the Magdalen, and the Monthly Tract Society.

Purdie had been practising for nearly 25 years when he became interested (through John McGlashan) in the Otago settlement. He obtained appointment as surgeon to the Mooltan, and sailed with his wife and six children. Before the vessel was two days out cholera broke out. It needed all Purdie's stern courage and firmness to enforce discipline amongst the passengers so as to check the outbreak. There were 20 cases, of which nine were fatal. The Mooltan arrived in Otago harbour on 26 Dec 1849. Purdie made up his mind to remain in the province. Before long he acquired 10 acres in North-East Valley, where he was practically the only resident. The 'Woodside' residence stood until 1905. His practice was arduous in the extreme, but not very lucrative. Appointed a magistrate (Jul 1850), he devoted himself faithfully to his judicial work, often sitting on the bench with Strode. He was one of the justices who in 1853 considered the attempts that were being made to stuff the electoral roll with names of Maori voters. It was he who administered a stern rebuke to Mr Justice Stephen when, charged with assault, his Honor protested: 'Do you think I would wait for the slow and tedious process of the law?' In 1854 Purdie was elected to the board of commissioners for the management of the public lands in Dunedin and in 1855 he was elected to the new town board, on which he served until 1860. He was a member of the waste lands board (1856-59). In Sep 1857 he was elected to represent the Western District in the Provincial Council, in which he sat until resigning in 1862. For a few months in 1860 he was in the executive. He worked in connection with the missions at Port Chalmers and North-East Valley, and as an active member of the congregation at Knox Church. Although a Baptist by conviction, he attended regularly at Knox until his own congregation was strong enough to open a church. He died on 30 May 1876.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Hocken, Otago; McIndoe; Fulton (p); Otago Daily Times, 31 May 1876, 25 Jul 1930.

Reference: Volume 2, page 98

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