Skip to main content

Reginald Harrison

1837 - 1908

Expert in Bigelow's litholapaxy operation

Reginald Harrison (1837–1908) was born in Stafford on 24 August 1837. He became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1866 and, initially, practiced in Liverpool.


He established a large urological practice at the North Liverpool Hospital and in his private rooms. He was instrumental in merging the Medical School into the University of Liverpool and his efforts led to the introduction of the first hospital ambulance service in Europe (pictured below right)

He became an expert in the field of genito-urinary medicine, such that, in 1889, he was invited to join the surgical staff of St Peter’s Hospital for Stone in London. Here, along with Hurry Fenwick, he was active in securing a senior position for Peter Freyer.

Harrison was a great proponent of Bigelow’s litholapaxy operation.

He wrote a popular textbook, "Surgical Disorders of the Urinary Organs", which went through four editions. In 1881, he reported on "A Case of Lithotomy where a Tumour of the Prostate Was Successfully Enucleated", one of the first descriptions of the surgical excision of a prostate tumour.


Download the Curator's article: "Reginald Harrison: Liverpool's First Urologist"

← Back to Famous Clinicians Room