Dr William Clark Souter (1880-1959)

Ophthalmic surgeon

William Clark Souter studied and trained at the University of Aberdeen, Moorfields Eye Hospital and Oxford University. After working at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital he moved to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and was based in the city until his retirement. In 1903 he was asked to join the Terra Nova as ship's surgeon on a relief expedition to Captain Robert Falcon Scott - Discovery was trapped in the Antarctic ice. William Clark Souter was awarded the polar medal. His prints recording the expedition have been published by the University of Aberdeen as the online collection Photographs of Dr W Clark Souter's Antarctic trip 1903-1904.

Birth in 1880

William Clark Souter was born at 08:00 on 24 February 1880, the son of Alexander Souter, commercial traveller, and Elsie Cruikshank. The entry in the statutory register of births for the district of Perth in the county of Perth gives the place of birth as Viewbank House, Craigie.

Birth entry for William Clark Souter (41 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1880/387/163

1881-1911 Censuses

In 1881, William C Souter, aged 1, was enumerated with his family at Viewbank House. The census return for the household is over two pages. The first line, giving details for his father - a commercial traveller, drapery - is on the previous page.

1881 Census record for William Clark Souter (30 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1881/387/10, page 5

In 1891 William C Souter (transcribed in the enumeration book as William D), 11, scholar, was enumerated with his family at 15 Fonthill Terrace in Old Machar. The census return gives his father's occupation as clothier and shows the household included seven children and a general servant.

1891 Census record for William Clark Souter (46 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1891/168-2/44, page 38

In 1901, Wm C Souter, 21, student of medicine, was enumerated with his family at 66 Polmuir Road, Aberdeen. The census return for the district of St Machar shows that the two younger children were born in Aberdeen.

1901 Census record for William Clark Souter (40KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1901/168-2/65, page 21

In 1911, Wm C Souter, 30, ophthalmic surgeon, was enumerated with his family at 1 Springbank Terrace in Aberdeen. The census return for the district of St Machar shows he was working on his own account.

1911 Census record for William Clark Souter (23 and 32 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1911/168-2/72 page 7

Marriage in 1914

William Clark Souter, ophthalmic surgeon, married Caroline Hunter Wilson on 2 June 1914. The entry in the statutory register of marriages for the district of Rubislaw in the burgh of Aberdeen gives his address as 2 Bonaccord Square in Aberdeen.

Marriage entry for William Clark Souter (62 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1914/168-3/79

Death in 1959

William Clark Souter, opthalmic surgeon, died on 27 February 1959. The entry in the statutory register of deaths for the district of Elgin gives the place of death as the Spynie Hospital in Elgin and his usual residence as 48 Victoria Terrace, Aberdeen.

Death entry for William Clark Souter (39 KB jpeg)
NationalRecords of Scotland, 1959/135/76