William Rutherford Sanders spent a childhood and early student days divided between Edinburgh and Montpelier, France before graduating in Medicine in Edinburgh. An early interest in the spleen was encouraged by a two-year period in Europe where he became familiar with the work of Helmholtz, Bernard and Henle. Returning to Edinburgh, his growing experience led to the position of assistant in the Infirmary pathology department. He conducted classes in the University of Edinburgh and on behalf of the Royal Colleges became familiar with the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons where he was chosen as Conservator in 1853. Criticised by 20th century historians for concentrating on verbal teaching rather than on the conservation of the museum, Sanders became a consultant physician to the Royal Infirmary in 1861 and in 1869 Professor of General Pathology. Throughout these years, Sanders gave as much time as possible to the study of the structure and function of the spleen and to neurological disorders such as hemiplegia. His later life was interrupted by a series of illnesses commencing with an abdominal abscess. A prolonged convalescence allowed the resumption of work but deranged vision and hemiplegia preceded his death on 18 February 1881.