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Abstract This article introduces the special issue of Transcultural Psychiatry in honour of Alexander Leighton. A sketch of his research career is followed by a discussion of the work of his wife, Dr. Jane Murphy, first on St. Lawrence Island, near the Bering Strait, and later as a key figure in the Stirling County project. A brief conclusion highlights the main aspects of their joint legacy to cultural psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. Key words biography • cultural psychiatry • research methods • social psychiatry I am deeply honoured to provide the introduction to this special issue of Transcultural Psychiatry, celebrating the many scientific contributions of two pioneers in psychiatric epidemiology: Alexander Hamilton Leighton and his wife Jane Murphy. Originally, I had intended to write only of the contributions of Dr. Leighton. I felt, however, that I had to widen the scope so as to make it possible to give due credit to someone who has accom-panied him almost from the beginning of the Stirling County Studies up to now. I would like to begin by briefly sketching, from a personal perspective, some details of Dr. Leighton’s career. It is, without doubt, a unique and Vol 43(1): 7–20 DOI: 10.1177/1363461506061754 www.sagepublications.com Copyright © 2006 McGill University transcultural psychiatr