Andrew Anderson studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, gaining an MD in 1839. He was Professor of Institutes of Medicine at the Anderson University, which was established by his grandfather. He also held the Chair of the Practice of Medicine at the same institute. Anderson worked as a surgeon at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary alongside William Mackenzie. He also worked as a consulting physician in Glasgow.

Anderson was became a Fellow of the College in 1840 and was president from 1868 to 1870. ]]>