James Goodchild Wakley (December 1825 in Brompton – 30 August 1886 in Longcross) was a physician and later co-joint editor along with his older brother of the general medical journal The Lancet, from 1862 when his father died, to his death in 1886.[1][2] Wakley was principally known as one of the most vociferous and public critics of Joseph Lister's antiseptic technique, indeed becoming his nemesis.[3]
Wakley was the youngest son of the English surgeon and politician Thomas Wakley[1] and Elizabeth Goodchild, whose father was a merchant and a governor of St Thomas' Hospital.[4] Wakley had three siblings, but his sister had died young. He had two brothers, His eldest brother was Henry Membury Wakley (1824–1903) who became a barrister and sat as deputy coroner under his father. His other older brother was Thomas Henry Wakley (1821–1907).[4][5]
His early education was completed at a school in the village of Hanwell, that is now part of the London Borough of Ealing.[1] Wakley then attended University College London where his professional training was completed. In 1849 he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. In 1852 he was awarded a Doctor of MedicineatKing's College, Aberdeen.[1]
