Sims, James Marion (1813–1883)

US gynaecologist. He gained a reputation by performing difficult and unorthodox surgery – in particular, for dealing with fistulas in women. He went to New York City in 1853, where he taught his procedure to other doctors and helped establish the New York Woman's Hospital in 1857. His Clinical Notes on Uterine Surgery (1866) contributed to the founding of modern gynaecology.

He was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina. He at first practised in Alabama. He perfected his technique after 30 operations without anaesthetic on a 17-year-old female slave named Anarcha in 1849. He spent most of 1861–65 in Europe where he performed various operations to considerable acclaim. Taking up his practice in New York City, he went to France during 1870 to perform surgery in the Franco-Prussian War.