David Yellowlees graduated MD in 1857 from the University of Edinburgh. At the start of his career he worked at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary as the assistant to William Gairdner. He also worked at the Royal Asylum of Edinburgh in Morningside. The majority of his career was spent as Physician Superintendent of the Royal Asylum of Glasgow at Gartnavel, becoming a leader in the care of mental diseases.

Yellowlees was president of the College from 1892 to 1894. ]]>
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