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Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E004540 - MacWatt, Sir Robert Charles (1865 - 1945)
Title:
MacWatt, Sir Robert Charles (1865 - 1945)
Author:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Identifier:
RCS: E004540
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2013-10-30
Description:
Obituary for MacWatt, Sir Robert Charles (1865 - 1945), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
MacWatt, Sir Robert Charles
Date of Birth:
22 January 1865
Place of Birth:
Duns, Berwickshire
Date of Death:
14 April 1945
Place of Death:
Kingston
Occupation:
Titles/Qualifications:
KB 1925

CIE 1916

K-i-H 1908

MRCS and FRCS 14 December 1911

MB ChB Edinburgh 1886

BSc public health 1897

FRCP Edinburgh 1925
Details:
Born on 22 January 1865 at Duns, Berwickshire, third son of Robert Charles MacWatt, MD, who practised there, and Ann Logan, his wife. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and University, and commissioned surgeon in the Indian Medical Service on 1 October 1887. He served on the North-West Frontier and won the Hazara expedition medal and clasps 1888, and further clasps for Lushai, North-East Frontier, 1889, and in 1891 Hazara again and second Miranzai, North-West Frontier, expedition. MacWatt was promoted major on 1 October 1899 and lieutenant-colonel on 1 October 1907, and received the Kaisar-i-Hind medal, first class, at the New Year honours 1908. In 1911 he took the English Fellowship, though not previously a Member of the College. He was placed in the special list for promotion on 1 April 1915, was created CIE in the New Year honours 1916, and promoted colonel on 8 January 1918, and appointed Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals in the Punjab. On 23 January 1918 he was promoted major-general and appointed Director-General of the IMS. MacWatt was knighted at the New Year 1925, and retired on 1 October 1926. He had served as an honorary surgeon to King George V, and was elected an FRCP Edinburgh in 1925. MacWatt was held in affectionate admiration in the IMS. He was an unassuming, friendly, democratic officer, always ready to consult subordinates who had special knowledge or experience. He was a close friend of General Sir Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikanir for nearly fifty years. After retirement MacWatt was often consulted by his Highness on medical and sanitary improvements for his State. After he came back to England MacWatt lived at Highwood House, Kingston Hill, Surrey, and was a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. He married twice: (1) in 1892 Blanche Mathilde, daughter of Lieutenant-General S F Blyth, CB; she died in 1924, survived by two sons; (2) in 1944 the widow of Colonel Richard C Wilson. He was taken ill in a cinema at Kingston on 14 April 1945 and died in hospital later the same day, aged 80. MacWatt was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical and the Zoological Societies. Publication:- Gunshot wounds of the lung *Brit med J* 1891, 2, 12.
Sources:
Crawford's *Roll of the LMS* Bengal list No 2264

*The Times* 17 April 1945 p 6f

*Lancet* 1945, 1, 612

*Brit med J*, 1945, 1, 683

Information given by son, Major S L MacWatt, DSO MC RA and RTR
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/E004000-E004999/E004500-E004599
Media Type:
Unknown