PROFESSOR THOMAS McCANN, M.D., a leading physician of Pittsburg, and the professor of surgery at the Western Pennsylvania Medical College, was born in this city, April 23, 1863, son of Dr. James and Sarah (Boyd) McCann. The family is of Scotch-Irish origin. Thomas McCann, the grandfather of Professor McCann, was a farmer of Plum township.

James McCann, M.D., LL.D., who was born in Plum town, April 12, 1836, at first received only the education of a farmer boy. His school days ended when he was fourteen years old, owing to the death of his father at that time. At the age of eighteen he came to Pittsburg, and began a course in book-keeping. Subsequently he obtained a position in a store on  Market Street, and worked there until he began to read medicine with old Dr. John Dickson. Later he entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. Upon graduating from that institution, he began the practice of his profession with old Dr. W. C. Reiter. When the Rebellion began he went out as assistant surgeon in the army, and was appointed to active field service. After returning from the war he settled in Pittsburg, locating at the corner of Ninth and Penn Avenues. Here he built up a large general practice, and had charge of many difficult surgical cases. His experience as army surgeon had given him extended practice in surgery, and not long after, coming back to Pittsburg, he was appointed surgeon to the West Pennsylvania Hospital. He had held this position for twenty years when he resigned it. Less than a year after, his death occurred on January 13, 1893. He was one of the original promoters and stockholders of the West Pennsylvania Medical College, and was the first occupant of its chair of surgery. Failing health obliged him to withdraw from active service in the college, but the chair was not filled again until after his death. His name will always be associated with the founding and development of the institution, as well as with the beneficent work of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. He was a member of the American Medical and Surgical Association; also of the Allegheny Medical Society, and for some time its President. He wrote many valuable articles for publication in standard medical works. He was connected with the Dispensary, and was surgeon for the Pittsburg Railroad and for the Allegheny Valley and the Pittsburg & Lake Erie roads. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, but during the later years of his life was not an active member. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and he could always be counted on to uphold the party's platform. His first wife, Sarah Boyd McCann, was the mother of seven children, among whom are: Professor McCann, the subject of this sketch; and D. S. McCann. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Martha Scott, daughter of Brewer Scott, an old resident of Pittsburg. His only child by this marriage was Alice McCann. He was a member of Christ's Methodist Episcopal Church. Afflicted with poor health for nearly a year before his death, he sought to restore it by travel in Europe and the South. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was twice conferred upon him — first by the University of Western Pennsylvania and later, on the day of his death, by the University of Heidelberg at Tiffin, Ohio.

Professor Thomas McCann was educated in the public schools of Pittsburg, at Elder's Ridge Academy, and at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. He began the study of medicine under the direction and tutorship of his father. Subsequently he pursued a full course of lectures at Bellevue Medical College, New York City, where he was for a year and a half, and took his degree in 1886. In 1888 he began the practice of medicine in association with his father, and has since acquired a large general practice. Upon the resignation of the office by his father, he was appointed surgeon to the West Pennsylvania Hospital. He was also appointed clinical surgeon to the same hospital, and, in addition, upon the death of Dr. Murdock, was given full charge of the instruction in the practice of surgery. Professor McCann is also consulting surgeon of St. Johns Hospital, Allegheny, and one of the surgeons of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny Valley Railroads. Thoroughly devoted to his profession, he gives the most careful attention to his patients, fully earning the success he enjoys.