John D. Sutherland (1905–1991)

On 14 June 1991 Edinburgh lost its most active and distinguished psychoanalyst, just as 23 years earlier London had been bereft. Dr Jock Sutherland died at the age of 86. He had, among other things, been Editor of the International Psychoanalytical Library, k Editor of the International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, Chairman of the Tavistock Clinic and Trustee of the Menninger Foundation. What now need to be recorded are the experiences which allowed him to exert a wide influence upon colleagues over half a century.

He was born in Edinburgh on 23 April 1905, the son of a publisher. He was educated at George Heriot's School. From the age of 8 he wished to become a Medical Missionary. When he first went to Edinburgh University, it was to graduate in Chemistry in 1926. But then his interest in psychology asserted itself: he took a degree in both education and psychology and then was appointed lecturer in the Psychology Department. He was also a psychologist in the Edinburgh University Child Guidance Clinic. Whilst supervising psychology practicals, once the class had got down to work, he and his co-demonstrator, Dr Ronald Fairbairn, had opportunities to discuss psychoanalysis. Drawn to the kind of work Fairbairn did and the way he presented it, Sutherland decided to become a psychoanalyst. To this end Fairbairn encouraged him to take a medical degree and so he started his life-long habit of involving himself in three or more full-time occupations simultaneously. He took his PhD (the Speed Factor in Intelligent Reaction) in 1931 whilst working as a full-time Lecturer in Psychology and also as a Medical Student. He qualified MB ChB in 1937 and was Resident Medical Officer at the Glasgow Royal Mental Hospital and Lecturer in Psychological Medicine at Glasgow from 1938 to 1940.

He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Major and was attached to Carstairs Hospital, Lanarkshire, which was a centre for the treatment of Army psychiatric casualties. He published