Born at Colooney, Co Sligo, Ireland on 15 October 1899, the elder son and second child of Frank Martin, a gentleman-farmer, and his wife, *née* Meredith. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in 1921 and qualifying in medicine in 1923. He took a prominent part in College athletics and was a good sprinter. After serving as resident medical officer at Gloucester Mental Hospital, he entered the Royal Naval Medical Service in December 1924, saw service afloat and abroad, and retired as surgeon lieutenant-commander in 1931. While at sea he successfully trained his ship's athletic team and helped them to win a Fleet regatta, though not himself an oar. Martin determined on leaving the Navy to equip himself as a surgical consultant, and after a period of postgraduate study took the Edinburgh Fellowship in 1932. He then served as senior casualty officer and house surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary, and for a year and a half as senior house surgeon and resident surgical officer at the Royal United Hospital at Bath. Six months' attendance at continental surgical clinics was followed by further postgraduate study at the Middlesex and St Bartholomew's Hospitals, and by holding other resident posts, including a period at All Saints Hospital for Genito-urinary Diseases in London. In 1937 he set up as a consultant at Bath, and in 1938 was elected surgical registrar at the Royal United Hospital and general surgeon to the Bath Eye Infirmary. In 1938 he added to his academic qualifications the Dublin Mastership and in 1939 the English Fellowship. He was a member of the Bath Clinical Society. Martin married on 5 July 1939 Phyllis, daughter of John William Fordham, MRCS, of Leicester, who survived him but without children. Martin died at Circus Lodge, Bath, after a short illness, on 1 November 1942, aged 43. He was an accomplished operator, artistic and careful in his technique, and a wise consultant. He bore his last illness with great courage, taking a professional interest in its course.