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Boyd, William
William Boyd, pathologist, educator, author (b at Portsoy, Scot 21 June 1885; d at Toronto 10 Mar 1979). Bill Boyd obtained his medical degree in 1908 at Edinburgh and published his first book, With a Field Ambulance at Ypres, in 1916. He was professor of pathology at University Manitoba, 1915-37, University of Toronto, 1937-51, and University of BC 1951-54.
His first pathology textbook was Surgical Pathology (later called Pathology for the Surgeon), published in 1925. Later textbooks were Pathology of Internal Disease (1931; later called Pathology for the Physician), Textbook of Pathology (1932) and An Introduction to Medical Science (1937). His books were popular with students all over the world for their clarity, fine prose and infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter; translated into many languages, they ran into innumerable editions.
Boyd was greatly sought after as a speaker at scientific meetings and social occasions, for he could capture his audience with wit and a fine delivery. He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1968.
