Robert Liston (1794-1847)

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Bust of Robert Liston (1794-1847), plaster, by Thomas Campbell, 1850. Robert Liston proved to be an exceptionally skilled surgeon who made lasting contributions to the field of medicine as a science. His reputation, however, was cemented on one fateful day when he demonstrated extraordinary skill and bravery in the operating room. A Scottish-born surgeon who practiced medicine throughout Britain, Robert Liston earned widespread respect for his exceptional ability to perform amputations with precision and speed. Working before anesthesia became widely accepted, Liston's patients were often awake and screaming during operations, requiring a high level of nerve and stomach fortitude from the surgeon. The shorter the operation time, the less pain and suffering the patient endured, and the greater their chances of survival. Robert Liston was renowned for his ability to amputate a leg in just two minutes, an impressive feat that earned him recognition and admiration from his peers. However, this remarkable skill came with significant drawbacks, which would ultimately define his legacy as a surgeon.