He planned and designed the course that became Royal St Georges in Kent and was an important figure in the establishment of the Ladies Golf Union in the United Kingdom.

[6] Realising that he did not wish to embark on a career in law, Purves began to study medicine in his spare time, going on to enter the University of Edinburgh Medical School.

In 1862, while still a student, he joined the crew of the whaler SS Polynia, completing an eight-month round trip from Dundee to Newfoundland.

[7][8] Purves worked in hospitals in Edinburgh and Cardiff before emigrating to Australia where he set up in medical practice in Horsham, Victoria.

In Utrecht he worked with Professor Franciscus Donders (1818–1889), who had established the first eye hospital in the Netherlands and made major contributions to the study of refraction and of astigmatism.

[10] He published an article on the common problem of removal of foreign bodies from the ear, which was a practical guide intended for students and general practitioners.

Issette Pearson appointed 'handicap advisers' who visited LGU clubs giving standard scratch score ratings to the courses.

In 1898 Purves with Henry Lamb and Issette Pearson were at the forefront of the introduction of similar standards in British men's golf.

She was a member of the Edinburgh-based family firm of opticians and instrument makers, her father running the London branch.

Alexander Buckholm Laidlaw (Alex) Purves represented London Scottish and was capped ten times for Scotland.

The second son, William Donald Campbell Laidlaw Purves played for London Scottish and was capped six times for Scotland.