[3] In 1818, he moved to the medical classes, learning anatomy from Professor John Barclay, who then was lecturing in the extra-academical school.

[2] In August 1823, Sharpey was awarded his doctorate (MD) from the University of Edinburgh, with his thesis De Ventriculi Carcinomate, and then returned to Paris, where he spent most of 1824.

He then appears to have settled for a time in Arbroath, where he began to practise under his step-father, Dr Arrott; but he then set out on a long hike in Europe, by foot through France to Switzerland, and on to Italy.

In 1831–1832, with Allen Thomson, who taught physiology, he gave a first course of lectures on systematic anatomy in the Extramural School of Medicine in Edinburgh.

[5][6] In July 1836 Sharpey was appointed to the chair of anatomy and physiology in the University of London in succession to Jones Quain.

He was made a member of its council in 1844, and was appointed one of the secretaries in place of Thomas Bell in November 1853, an office which he held until his retirement.

He was also for 15 years, from April 1861, one of the members appointed by the Crown on the general council of medical education and registration.

Troubled by failure of his eyesight, about 1871 Sharpey retired from the post of secretary of the Royal Society, and in 1874 from his professorship at University College.

[citation needed] From 1829 to 1836 Sharpey was engaged in scientific work, of which the earliest outcome was his paper on ciliary motion, published in 1830.