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Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E001092 - Buszard, Frank (1839 - 1913)
Title:
Buszard, Frank (1839 - 1913)
Author:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Identifier:
RCS: E001092
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2010-11-11
Description:
Obituary for Buszard, Frank (1839 - 1913), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
Buszard, Frank
Date of Birth:
1839
Date of Death:
14 October 1913
Place of Death:
Northampton, UK
Occupation:
Titles/Qualifications:
MRCS April 16th 1860

FRCS November 25th 1864

LSA 1861

MB Lond 1861

MD 1865

LRCP Lond 1862

MRCP 1877

FRCP 1887

JP for Borough of Northampton
Details:
The second son of Dr Marston Buszard, of Lutterworth, who there enjoyed a large practice and was himself the son of a medical man. Frank Buszard entered Rugby School on April 1st, 1854, and received his professional training at Guy's Hospital, where his career was brilliant. It was probably owing to the fact that Buszard entered Guy's in the same year as Hilton Fagge that he missed a chance of getting on to the Staff. At the London University he ran close behind Fagge, who had a phenomenal record. At the 1st MB he was placed third in three of the subjects out of four in honours; at the 2nd MB he was placed third in honours in surgery, and besides gained honours in the three other subjects-medicine, physiology, and midwifery. Buszard became House Surgeon at Guy's Hospital and was regarded by Sir William Gull as one of his most distinguished pupils. From Gull, Buszard probably learnt much of that tact and judgement in treating patients which stood him in such good stead throughout his career. After leaving Guy's, Buszard was elected House Surgeon to the Northampton Infirmary, as it was then named. During the seven years of his tenure of office he enjoyed a reputation for sound work and was almost worshipped by his pupils (of whom there were generally two or more) for the thorough methods of his coaching. He became endeared not only to these practitioners of the future, but also to his patients, and built up a great local reputation. He began to practise in the town as soon as he resigned the House Surgeoncy, but it was eight years before a vacancy occurred on the Hospital Staff and he was elected Surgeon in succession to James Mash (qv). In two years' time he gave up surgery, to the surprise of his friends, and was appointed Physician in succession to Dayrell J T Francis, MD. The latter had been very successful, and it was at first doubted whether a surgeon could fitly take his place, but in the end Buszard was even more sought after than his predecessor had been. His fame locally was great, and in his time he must have been called into consultation to almost every county family, whilst he always kept himself well abreast of all fresh ideas in diagnosis and treatment. His professional brethren for years recognized him as their leader, and called him in for all cases of doubt or difficulty. In the sphere of medical politics Buszard took up a bold position in defence of the just rights and interests of the profession. He was President of the South Midland Branch of the British Medical Association, first Chairman of the Northants Division, and was elected Chairman of the Northampton Medical Committee formed in connection with the Insurance Act. He was Consulting Surgeon to the Market Harborough Dispensary and Physician to the Northampton General Hospital at the time of his death. On his retirement in March, 1912, after fifty years' service to this institution, some two hundred admirers, headed by the Marquis of Northampton, presented him with two portraits of himself by Mr Harris Brown, of which one was retained by the hospital while the other went to his family. Buszard delivered an eloquent speech of thanks in which he reviewed the great progress made in hospital management during his career. Characteristically he did not mention his share-an important one-in the improvement of the Northampton Infirmary. He touched life at many points. A fluent speaker and capable debater, he would have shone in Parliament or at the Bar. He was anxious that medical men should take their share in public life, and always encouraged his younger colleagues in their efforts to do so. From 1881 onwards, for nearly twenty years, he was an Alderman of the Borough, and for the greater part of that period rendered valuable service as Chairman of the Public Health Committee in eradicating the Northampton slums and improving the health of the people. When he left the Town Council his colleague, Dr R A Milligan, declared it lost its most distinguished member. He was an ardent Conservative leader of the Unionists in his own town, a strong partisan, whose keen verbal thrusts were appreciated by his opponents at many meetings. For years he read the Sunday evening lessons at Dallington Church, of which he was Churchwarden. Tall and commanding of presence as well as kindly in manner, he inspired his patients with confidence. He was devoted to outdoor sport and was a fine cricketer and lawn-tennis player, till compelled by the onset of rheumatoid arthritis to become a mere onlooker. He retired finally from medical work in June, 1913, and died at Dallington, Northampton, on Sunday, October 14th, 1913, survived by his widow, two daughters, and one son. Buszard's elder brother, Marston Clarke Buszard, KC, was Recorder of Leicester and leader of the Midland Circuit.
Sources:
Michell's *Rugby School Register*, Rugby, 1902, ii, 135
Rights:
Copyright (c) The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Collection:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format:
Obituary
Format:
Asset
Asset Path:
Root/Lives of the Fellows/E001000-E001999/E001000-E001099
Media Type:
Unknown