His was born in
Edinburgh the son of Rev
James Haldane by his second wife Margaret Rutherford, a daughter of Professor
Daniel Rutherford. He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied medicine at the
University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1848. He then undertook further postgraduate study in
Vienna and
Paris. He became Resident Physician at the
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and also served at the city's Dispensaries. He taught various medical subjects at the University of Edinburgh. He became Pathologist and Consulting Physician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. In 1846 he served as President of the Royal Medical Society. In 1853 Haldane was elected a member of the
Harveian Society of Edinburgh and served as President in 1880. In 1867 he was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer was
John Hutton Balfour. The University of Edinburgh awarded him a second honorary doctorate (LLD) in 1883. In 1867 he was also elected a member of the
Aesculapian Club and in 1877 became its Honorary Secretary. He remained in this role until his death. From 1879 to 1882 he served as President of the
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He died on 12 April 1887 at his home 22
Charlotte Square and is buried in the north-west section of the original sections of
Dean Cemetery in
Edinburgh. ==Family==