John Baty was born at Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, and he was educated at the grammar school there. He graduated MB ChB, at Edinburgh University in 1932 being awarded the Ettles Scholarship and Gold Medal as the most distinguished student of his year. After house appointments at Rotherham and Carlisle he went to Edinburgh as house surgeon to Sir David Wilkie who later arranged for him to become surgeon to the Duke of Portland at his shooting lodge in Caithness, an arrangement that was made because a guest of the Duke had developed peritonitis from appendicular disease on a previous occasion. He became FRCS Ed, in 1935 and went from the Royal Salop Infirmary where he was resident surgical officer to general practice in Rotherham and an honorary appointment to the surgical staff at the general hospital there. He served in the RAMC from 1942 to 1946, mainly in India and Burma and his distinguished service there gained him the OBE. His book *Surgeon in the jungle war* (1979) recorded his war experience. He became honorary surgeon to the Royal Salop Infirmary in 1946 and he developed a large hospital and private practice, being known affectionately to all the staff as 'Uncle Jack'. He served on the hospital management committee, was chairman of the medical staff committee and was influential in the establishment of the Nuffield Nursing Home in Shrewsbury. He retired from the NHS in 1974 but was active professionally until he died suddenly on 3 September 1982. He enjoyed a very happy marriage and his wife and daughter survived him.