Capital graduate who became the father of modern hypnosis

January 4 marks World Hypnotism Day, the annual day promoting the therapeutic benefits of hypnotherapy, while dispelling some of the myths surrounding hypnosis.

- Stephen McMurray.

Hypnotism was popular at the end of the 19th century

Many people don't know that a University of Edinburgh graduate went on to become known as the father of modern hypnosis, writes Stephen McMurray.James Braid may be a name better known to golfers, however, there was another James Braid who played an important role in the development of hypnotherapy.

This James Braid was born in 1795 in the parish of Portmoak, Kinross-shire. He went onto be an apprentice of surgeons Thomas and Charles Anderson, and attended the University of Edinburgh. Braid was awarded the diploma of Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of the City of Edinburgh.

Braid left Edinburgh to work in Lanarkshire and Dumfries. He subsequently moved to Manchester and gained a reputation as a skilled surgeon, correcting deformities such as club foot and scoliosis. It is believed that Braid first became interested in what we now refer to as hypnosis when he was in Manchester.