Dr Alexander Wood, beloved 18th-century surgeon and Edinburgh eccentric
VENTURING out in Edinburgh without a brolly, even on the sunniest of days, is unwise. Scotland’s temperamental weather is legendary, and although the capital isn’t as notorious as some cities for downpours – looking at you, Glasgow – a surprise soaking isn’t uncommon.
Dr Alexander Wood knew this all too well, but when he took to the streets with a brolly in 1780, he was the talk of the town.
“Lang Sandy” – as this respected surgeon was better known to his friends – was the first person in Auld Reekie to own and use a waterproof umbrella.
He cut a striking figure in Enlightenment Edinburgh. He was tall, thin and rather gangly, hence his nickname, plus he had a hefty dose of eccentricity to complement his distinctive looks.
Exhibit A: the only reason he purchased an umbrella in the first place was to keep his pet raven dry.
The doctor was frequently accompanied on his rounds by his feathered friend perched on his shoulder, and followed by his much-loved pet sheep.
Willy the sheep grazed beside Dundas House – then the Excise Office, and now the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters – and would pop his head through the railings when his master passed by, raiding his coat pockets for treats and then trotting beside him around town.
Lang Sandy’s dashing style and bold choice of pets delighted casual onlookers, but it was his kindness and generosity that won him lasting adoration. In fact, his excellent reputation even saved him from an untimely death during the Dundas Riots of 1792. He was mistaken for the unpopular Lord Provost, Sir James Stirling, and an angry crowd made to throw him off a bridge. “I’m Lang Sandy Wood,” he cried, “tak’ me to a lamp and ye’ll see!” The mob realised their
“The doctor was often accompanied by his raven
mistake and he was released.
A regular at many of the dining and social clubs of the time, Sandy had legions of fond friends – the most famous of whom was Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns.
When the poet fell from his carriage and dislocated his knee during a visit to Edinburgh in 1787, Sandy treated him and the two hit it off. Burns later described him as “one of the noblest men in God’s world.”
He was immortalised by Lord Byron in his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, and by Sir Walter Scott in Guy Mannering.